يروقُكَ بِشْراً وهْوَ جَذْلانُ مثْلَما

يروقُكَ بِشْراً وهْوَ جَذْلانُ مثْلَما

تَخافُ شَباهُ وهْوَ غَضبانُ مُحنقُ

تَخافُ شَباهُ وهْوَ غَضبانُ مُحنقُ

He delights you with cheerfulness when he is joyful, just as

You like him when he's gentle, though he's usually harsh,

You fear his sharp edge when he is angry and enraged.

Just as you fear him when he's angry and grim.

كذا السّيف في أَطرافِهِ الموتُ كامنٌ

كذا السّيف في أَطرافِهِ الموتُ كامنٌ

وفي مَتنهِ ضَوءٌ يروقُ ورَوْنَقُ

وفي مَتنهِ ضَوءٌ يروقُ ورَوْنَقُ

So too the sword: death lurks in its edges,

So is the sword - at its edges lies death in wait,

And on its flat are a pleasing light and luster.

Yet in its blade there's a light, pleasing and bright.