بالعلم يرقى الفتى ذرى الشرف

بالعلم يرقى الفتى ذرى الشرف

لا بالثرا والنعيم والترف

لا بالثرا والنعيم والترف

Through knowledge a young man scales the heights of honor,

With knowledge does the youth ascend to the heights of honor,

not through wealth, comfort, or luxury.

Not with wealth, luxury, and indulgence.

في صدف البحر عزة وسنا

في صدف البحر عزة وسنا

منشؤها من جواهر الصدف

منشؤها من جواهر الصدف

Within the shells of the sea are dignity and radiance,

In the seashells are pride and radiance,

whose source is the jewels within the shells.

Derived from the jewels within the shell.

ما أكرمت دوحة بلا ثمر

ما أكرمت دوحة بلا ثمر

بلى إذا أينعت لمقتطف

بلى إذا أينعت لمقتطف

No spreading tree is honored without fruit;

No palm tree is honored when fruitless,

but it is when its fruit ripens for a gatherer.

Unless when laden, ready for plucking.

هو النفيس الذي قد افتتنت

هو النفيس الذي قد افتتنت

به نفوس الكرام من شغف

به نفوس الكرام من شغف

It is the precious thing that has enthralled

He is the precious one whom the souls

the souls of the noble with ardent love.

Of the noble were enamored with passionately.

قد عشقوا حسنه وبهجته

قد عشقوا حسنه وبهجته

عشق بديع الجمال والهيف

عشق بديع الجمال والهيف

They have loved its beauty and its splendor,

They loved his beauty and radiance,

as one loves someone of wondrous beauty and slender grace.

The love of exquisite beauty and splendor.

الجهل مرّ يعاف مورده

الجهل مرّ يعاف مورده

والعلم يحلو لكل مرتشف

والعلم يحلو لكل مرتشف

Ignorance is bitter; its watering place is shunned,

Ignorance is bitter, its spring repulsive,

while knowledge tastes sweet to everyone who sips.

While knowledge is sweet to the taster.

العلم صبح والجهل جنح دجى

العلم صبح والجهل جنح دجى

وأين رأد الضحى من السدف

وأين رأد الضحى من السدف

Knowledge is dawn, and ignorance the gloom of night;

Knowledge is the dawn, and ignorance the gloom of night,

and how can full morning light compare with darkness?

Where does the glow of morn meet the darkness?

من لم ينل في صباه معرفة

من لم ينل في صباه معرفة

فهو جدير بدائم الأسف

فهو جدير بدائم الأسف

Whoever has not gained knowledge in his youth

He who failed to gain knowledge in his youth

is deserving of unending regret.

Deserves perpetual sorrow and regret.