أُنهنِهُI restrain غَرْبيmy sharp edge عنfrom الجاهليthe ignorant (continued on the next line)
أُنهنِهُ غَرْبي عن الجاهلي
نَending completing “the ignorant” حلماout of forbearance وإنيand indeed I لعضبindeed sharp اللسانِof tongue
نَ حلما وإني لعضب اللسانِ
I hold my sharp edge back from the ignorant,
I complain of my ignorance of the ignorant
out of forbearance, though I am indeed sharp of tongue.
Even though my dreams are wise and my tongue is sharp
فإنbut if غمطواthey scorn الحلمthe forbearance أتبعتُهI follow it up
فإن غمطوا الحلم أتبعتُه
مَغبَّةthe dire consequence إطراقةِof bowing the head الأُفعوانthe male viper
مَغبَّة إطراقةِ الأُفعوان
But if they scorn my forbearance, I follow it
If they despise wisdom, I will follow it
with the dire aftermath of a viper's bowed head.
With the striking fangs of snakes