ما الجودُ عَن كَثرَةِ الأَموالِ وَالنَشَبِ

ما الجودُ عَن كَثرَةِ الأَموالِ وَالنَشَبِ

وَلا البَلاغَةُ في الإِكثارِ وَالخُطَبِ

وَلا البَلاغَةُ في الإِكثارِ وَالخُطَبِ

Generosity does not spring from abundance of wealth and possessions.

Neither generosity from ample wealth and influence,

Nor does eloquence lie in copious speech and orations.

Nor eloquence from excessive speech and sermons,

وَلا الشَجاعَةُ عَن جِسمٍ وَلا جَلَدٍ

وَلا الشَجاعَةُ عَن جِسمٍ وَلا جَلَدٍ

وَلا الإِمارَةُ إِرثٌ عَن أَبٍ فَأَبِ

وَلا الإِمارَةُ إِرثٌ عَن أَبٍ فَأَبِ

Nor does courage spring from physique or endurance.

Nor courage from physique and endurance,

Nor is rulership an inheritance from father after father.

Nor leadership as ancestral legacy from father to son,

لكِنَّها هِمَمٌ أَدَّت إِلى رِفَعٍ

لكِنَّها هِمَمٌ أَدَّت إِلى رِفَعٍ

وَكُلُّ ذلِكَ طَبعٌ غَيرُ مُكتَسَبِ

وَكُلُّ ذلِكَ طَبعٌ غَيرُ مُكتَسَبِ

Rather, these are lofty aspirations that have led to high stations,

But they are resolves that led to exaltation,

and all this is innate disposition, not acquired.

And all that is innate, not acquired.

فَرُبَّ ذي حَسَبٍ أَودَت صَنايِعُهُ

فَرُبَّ ذي حَسَبٍ أَودَت صَنايِعُهُ

بِهِ وَقَد شَرَّفَت وَغداً بِلا حَسَبِ

بِهِ وَقَد شَرَّفَت وَغداً بِلا حَسَبِ

For many a man of noble lineage, his deeds have brought ruin

So a man of pedigree, his own deeds

upon him, yet have ennobled a wretch without noble lineage.

May shame him, though they once ennobled, and tomorrow he is without pedigree.

وَرُبَّ مَحمودِ فِعلٍ ما لَهُ حَسَبٌ

وَرُبَّ مَحمودِ فِعلٍ ما لَهُ حَسَبٌ

إِلّا صَنايِعُ جاءَتهُ مِن الأَدَبِ

إِلّا صَنايِعُ جاءَتهُ مِن الأَدَبِ

And many a man of praiseworthy conduct has no noble lineage

And a praiseworthy deed has no pedigree,

save deeds that came to him through refinement.

Save that it came to him from refinement.

فَجَلَّلَتهُ بِعِزٍّ بَعدَ مَخمَلَةٍ

فَجَلَّلَتهُ بِعِزٍّ بَعدَ مَخمَلَةٍ

وَرَتَّبَتهُ مِنَ الإِفضالِ في الرُتَبِ

وَرَتَّبَتهُ مِنَ الإِفضالِ في الرُتَبِ

So they clothed him in honor after obscurity,

So it gave him honor after disgrace,

and through generosity placed him in high ranks.

And ranked him among the magnanimous in rank.

لا تَعجَبَنَّ لِصَرفِ الدَهرِ كَيفَ أَتى

لا تَعجَبَنَّ لِصَرفِ الدَهرِ كَيفَ أَتى

فَكُلُّهُ عَجَبٌ يَأوي إِلى عَجَبِ

فَكُلُّهُ عَجَبٌ يَأوي إِلى عَجَبِ

Do not marvel at the turns of time, however they come:

Do not wonder at the caprice of fate, however it came,

for it is all wonder, taking refuge in wonder.

For all is wondrous, inclining toward the wondrous.