العِلمُknowledge أنفَسُmost precious عِلْقسunclear; likely 'treasure' أنتَyou داخِرُهُstoring it away
العِلمُ أنفَسُ عِلْقس أنتَ داخِرُهُ
مَنْwhoever يدرُسِstudies العِلمَknowledge لمnot تَدْرُسْfade مفاخِرُهُhis honors
مَنْ يدرُسِ العِلمَ لم تَدْرُسْ مفاخِرُهُ
Knowledge is the most precious [treasure] you store away.
Knowledge is the noblest pursuit, you who seek knowledge
Whoever studies knowledge, his honors do not fade.
He who studies knows not the value of his quest
فاجهَدْso strive لِتَعلَمَso that you may learn ماwhat أصبحْتَyou have become تجهَلُهُyou do not know it
فاجهَدْ لِتَعلَمَ ما أصبحْتَ تجهَلُهُ
فأوُّلُfor the beginning العِلمِof knowledge إقبالٌeager pursuit وآخِرُهُand its end
فأوُّلُ العِلمِ إقبالٌ وآخِرُهُ
So strive to learn what you now do not know.
So strive to learn what you do not yet know
For knowledge begins—and ends—with eager pursuit.
For the beginning of knowledge is enthusiasm, and its end is awe