لَيسَthere is not لِلعَينِfor the eye وَراءَbeyond شَأوِهِhis reach
لَيسَ لِلعَينِ وَراءَ شَأوِهِ
لِلعُلاfor high honor وَالمُكرِماتِand noble deeds مُطَّرَحa place to look
لِلعُلا وَالمُكرِماتِ مُطَّرَح
The eye has, beyond his farthest reach,
Beyond his reach, the eye has nowhere
no place to cast itself toward glory’s heights and deeds of honor.
to look for high honor and noble deeds.
شَحَّhe was sparing بِالعَرضِwith his honor وَجادَand he gave generously بِاللُهىwith gifts
شَحَّ بِالعَرضِ وَجادَ بِاللُهى
فَحَوىso he gained المَجدَglory بِماthrough what جادَhe gave generously وَشَحand he withheld
فَحَوى المَجدَ بِما جادَ وَشَح
He jealously guarded his honor, yet lavished gifts,
He jealously guarded his honor and was lavish with gifts;
and so encompassed glory through both what he gave and what he withheld.
thus he won glory through both generosity and restraint.
فَإِذاso whenever هَمَّhe set his mind بِأَمرٍon a matter نالَهُhe attained it
فَإِذا هَمَّ بِأَمرٍ نالَهُ
فَسَواءٌso it is the same جَدَّhe acted earnestly فيهِin it وَمَزَحand he jested
فَسَواءٌ جَدَّ فيهِ وَمَزَح
Whenever he set his mind on a matter, he attained it;
Whenever he sets his mind on a matter, he attains it;
it was all the same whether he pursued it in earnest or in jest.
so it is all the same whether he pursues it earnestly or in jest.
