كَمhow many أَديبٍa cultured man فَطِنٍdiscerning عالِمِlearned
كَم أَديبٍ فَطِنٍ عالِمِ
مُستَكمِلِfully endowed with العَقلِintellect مُقِّلٍpoor عَديمِdestitute
مُستَكمِلِ العَقلِ مُقِّلٍ عَديمِ
How many a cultured, discerning, learned man,
How many an astute scholar
How many a cultured man, astute and learned,
of consummate intellect, is poor and destitute!
Full of wisdom, little wealth to his name
With perfected intellect, yet a pauper and destitute,
وَمِنand among جَهولٌan ignorant man مُكثِرٍwealthy مالَهُhis wealth
وَمِن جَهولٌ مُكثِرٍ مالَهُ
ذَلِكَthat تَقديرُthe decree of العَزيزُthe Almighty العَليمِthe All-Knowing
ذَلِكَ تَقديرُ العَزيزُ العَليمِ
And among the ignorant are men of abundant wealth.
While an ignorant owns vast riches
And how many an ignoramus possessing abundant wealth;
That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.
Such is the decree of the Almighty, the Wise
That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.