إنْ كنتَ تطلُب رتبَةَ الأحرارِ

إنْ كنتَ تطلُب رتبَةَ الأحرارِ

فأعْمَدْ لحِلْمٍ راجحٍ وَوَقارِ

فأعْمَدْ لحِلْمٍ راجحٍ وَوَقارِ

If you seek the rank of noble men,

If you seek the rank of the noble and free

Then turn to sound forbearance and dignity.

Then be steadfast, wise, dignified and calm

وحَذارِ مِن سَفَهٍ يَشِينُكُ وَصمُهُ

وحَذارِ مِن سَفَهٍ يَشِينُكُ وَصمُهُ

إنَّ التَّسَفُّهَ بالمُروءةِ زارِ

إنَّ التَّسَفُّهَ بالمُروءةِ زارِ

And beware of folly whose stain disgraces you;

Beware of foolishness that would mar your reputation

Indeed, foolish conduct demeans noble character.

For foolishness is the foe of manliness

وذَرِ السَّفيه إذا تَصدّى لامرِئٍ

وذَرِ السَّفيه إذا تَصدّى لامرِئٍ

مَتَحَلِّمٍ ونَحاهُ بالإضرار

مَتَحَلِّمٍ ونَحاهُ بالإضرار

And leave the fool alone when he confronts a man

Leave the fool when he accosts a wise man

Practicing forbearance, and seeks to do him harm.

Who is forbearing and whom he seeks to harm

فالماءُ يُطفي وهو لَيْنٌ مَسُّهُ

فالماءُ يُطفي وهو لَيْنٌ مَسُّهُ

عَذْبٌ مَذاقَتُهُ لَهِيبَ النَّارِ

عَذْبٌ مَذاقَتُهُ لَهِيبَ النَّارِ

For water extinguishes—though its touch is soft

For water quenches fire though gentle its touch

And its taste sweet—the blaze of fire.

Sweet its taste, unlike flames that scar