ياO طالبَseeker of الدّنياthe world علىwhile enduring ذلٍّhumiliation بهاfor its sake
يا طالبَ الدّنيا على ذلٍّ بها
أعززْhow grievous! عليّto me بأنthat أراكI see you ذليلاabased
أعززْ عليّ بأن أراك ذليلا
O seeker of the world, enduring humiliation for its sake,
O seeker of this world's vanities, do not
How grievous it is to me to see you abased!
Gloat at seeing me in such humility
ماwhat لِيwith me أَراكI see you حَمَلْتَyou have borne فيin طلبِseeking الغِنىwealth
ما لِي أَراك حَمَلْتَ في طلبِ الغِنى
ولربّماand perhaps صَغُرَتْhave grown small يداكyour two hands ثقيلاa heavy burden
ولربّما صَغُرَتْ يداك ثقيلا
Why do I see you bearing, in pursuit of wealth,
Why do I see you strive for worldly wealth
a heavy burden, though your hands may be too small to bear it?
When your hands grasp but triviality
لوif كنتَyou were تعقلyou use reason أوor تشاورyou consult عاقلاًa wise man
لو كنتَ تعقل أو تشاور عاقلاً
كانwould be الكثيرmuch وقدwhile already ذَلَلْتَyou became abased قليلاlittle
كان الكثير وقد ذَلَلْتَ قليلا
Had you used reason, or consulted a wise man,
If you had any wisdom or asked the wise
much would count as little, with you abased.
Much could be gained through frugality
ذلّbecame abased اِمرؤٌa man جعلmade المذلَّةَhumiliation دهرَهhis lifetime
ذلّ اِمرؤٌ جعل المذلَّةَ دهرَه
طَلَبَseeking المغانِمِgains منزلاa dwelling مأهولاinhabited
طَلَبَ المغانِمِ منزلا مأهولا
Abased is a man who makes humiliation, throughout his life,
A man is shamed when shame becomes his way
a dwelling he inhabits in pursuit of gain.
Seeking plunder where plunder abounds
عدِّcount المطامِعَcovetous desires كيفَhowever شئتَyou wish وخذْand take بهاin exchange for them
عدِّ المطامِعَ كيفَ شئتَ وخذْ بها
مِلْءَa full measure اليدينboth hands منof العفافhonorable restraint بديلاas a substitute
مِلْءَ اليدين من العفاف بديلا
Count your desires however you wish, and take in their place
Count your hopes as you wish and hold to them
two hands full of honorable restraint as a substitute.
Purity of hands is better than gold found
وإذاand if فجعتَyou are bereft بماءof the honor of وجهكyour face لمnot يُفِدْit avails
وإذا فجعتَ بماء وجهك لم يُفِدْ
إنْeven if نلتَyou obtain منfrom أيديthe hands of الرّجالmen جزيلاa great deal
إنْ نلتَ من أيدي الرّجال جزيلا
And if you are bereft of your face's honor, it avails you nothing,
If you weep to wet your face, it will not help
even if you receive a great deal from the hands of men.
Though you take from men's hands bounty profound
Sol 6.1