ما ضَرَّ جَهلُ الجاهِلي

ما ضَرَّ جَهلُ الجاهِلي

نَ وَلا اِنتَفَعتُ أَنا بِحِذقي

نَ وَلا اِنتَفَعتُ أَنا بِحِذقي

The ignorance of the ignorant has done them no harm,

The ignorance of the ignorant does not harm me,

nor have I benefited from my skill.

Nor have I benefited from my own skill.

وَزِيادَتي في الحَذقِ فَه

وَزِيادَتي في الحَذقِ فَه

يَ زِيادَةٌ في نَقصِ رِزقي

يَ زِيادَةٌ في نَقصِ رِزقي

And my increase in skill—

And my increase in skill is nothing

is an increase in the decline of my livelihood.

But an increase in the decrease of my sustenance.