أرىI consider لعبةَthe game of الشطرنجchess إنْif هيit حُصّلَتْit is fully understood
أرى لعبةَ الشطرنج إنْ هي حُصّلَتْ
أحقُّmost deserving أمورِaffairs of الناسِpeople ألّاthat ... not يُحصَّلاbe mastered
أحقُّ أمورِ الناسِ ألّا يُحصَّلا
I consider the game of chess, if fully understood,
I see the game of chess, if it is mastered
the human pursuit most deserving of being left unmastered:
Is the most proper of people's matters, it should not be mastered
تعلَّةُthe diversion of بوَّابيْنtwo gatekeepers جاعاthe two grew hungry وأرْملاand became penniless
تعلَّةُ بوَّابيْن جاعا وأرْملا
ببابٍat a gate قليلٍscant خيرهُits bounty فتَعلّلاso the two sought diversion
ببابٍ قليلٍ خيرهُ فتَعلّلا
the pastime of two gatekeepers who grew hungry and penniless
The excuse of two guards, hungry and widowed
at a gate whose bounty was scant, so they sought diversion.
At a small door, it is better, so be excused