مَثَلُ الفَتى عِندَ التَغَرُّبِ وَالنَوى

مَثَلُ الفَتى عِندَ التَغَرُّبِ وَالنَوى

مَثَلُ الشَرارَةِ إِن تُفارِق نارَها

مَثَلُ الشَرارَةِ إِن تُفارِق نارَها

A young man's likeness, when abroad and far away,

The youth when abroad and his purpose does tend

is that of a spark when it leaves its fire.

Is like unto a spark when it leaves the fire's bend

إِن صادَفَت أَرضاً أَرَتكَ خُمودَها

إِن صادَفَت أَرضاً أَرَتكَ خُمودَها

أَو وافَقَت أُكُلاً أَرَتكَ مَنارَها

أَو وافَقَت أُكُلاً أَرَتكَ مَنارَها

If it meets the ground, it shows you its dying out;

Should it land on barren earth, its light is penned

or finds fuel, it shows you its blaze.

Should it land on tinder, its flame will ascend

وَلَبِئسَ نَفسُ المَرءِ نَفسٌ حَسَّنَت

وَلَبِئسَ نَفسُ المَرءِ نَفسٌ حَسَّنَت

فِعلَ القَبيحِ لَهُ فَنَصَّ شَنارَها

فِعلَ القَبيحِ لَهُ فَنَصَّ شَنارَها

And vile indeed is a man's soul—a soul that made fair

Ill is the soul that takes to vice with delight

the doing of evil in his eyes, so he exposed its disgrace.

And does wrong, then boasts of it with all his might

وَرهاءُ مُفسِدَةٌ أَهانَت عِرضَها

وَرهاءُ مُفسِدَةٌ أَهانَت عِرضَها

حَتّى أُصيبَ وَأَكرَمَت دينارَها

حَتّى أُصيبَ وَأَكرَمَت دينارَها

A foolish, corrupting woman debased her honor

Ostentation corrupts, though it seem upright

until it was violated, while she treasured her dinar.

Till for a coin, it forfeits honor bright

وَأَساءَ ناكِحُ زَوجَةٍ نَصرانَةٍ

وَأَساءَ ناكِحُ زَوجَةٍ نَصرانَةٍ

قَطَعَت لِأَجلِ نِكاحِهِ زِنّارَها

قَطَعَت لِأَجلِ نِكاحِهِ زِنّارَها

And he did wrong who married a Christian wife

He marries a Christian maid, but fails his duty

who cut her girdle for the sake of marrying him.

She for their union severs her cincture beauty