بين المقطم والمقطم نسبة

بين المقطم والمقطم نسبة

في الثقل لا تخفى العقلاء

في الثقل لا تخفى العقلاء

Between al-Muqattam and al-Muqattam there is a kinship

There is a clear relation between matter and spirit

In heaviness, not hidden from the wise.

In weight, not hidden from the wise

فصخور ذا وسطور ذا وكلاهما

فصخور ذا وسطور ذا وكلاهما

متألف من صخرة صماء

متألف من صخرة صماء

For this one's rocks and that one's lines—both

For this has rocks, and that lines, yet both

Are composed of solid rock.

Are made of deaf rock

لكن بينهما اختلافا بَيِّناً

لكن بينهما اختلافا بَيِّناً

كتباين الأفعال والأسماء

كتباين الأفعال والأسماء

Yet between them lies a clear difference,

But between them a clear difference

Like the distinction between verbs and nouns.

Like that between verbs and nouns

هذا حجارته إذا ما قُطِّعت

هذا حجارته إذا ما قُطِّعت

صلحت بجملتها لكل بناء

صلحت بجملتها لكل بناء

This one's stones, when they are cut,

The rocks of this, if fragmented

Are all fit for any building.

Would serve any building

لكن ذاك سطوره ما سُطرت

لكن ذاك سطوره ما سُطرت

إلا لهدم فضائل العقلاء

إلا لهدم فضائل العقلاء

But that one's lines were never written

But the lines of that, if inscribed

Except to destroy the virtues of the wise.

Would only destroy the virtues of the wise