مِن عَثرَةِ القَومِ أَن كَنّوا وَليدَهُم

مِن عَثرَةِ القَومِ أَن كَنّوا وَليدَهُم

أَبا فُلانٍ وَلَم يَنسُل وَلا بَلَغا

أَبا فُلانٍ وَلَم يَنسُل وَلا بَلَغا

Among people's blunders is giving their newborn the byname

They named their son after his father

“Father of So-and-so,” though he has neither fathered a child nor come of age.

Though he did not beget nor mature

كَالسَيفِ سُمِّيَ قَطّاعاً وَما ضَرَبَت

كَالسَيفِ سُمِّيَ قَطّاعاً وَما ضَرَبَت

بِهِ الأَكُفُّ وَلا في هامَةٍ وَلَغا

بِهِ الأَكُفُّ وَلا في هامَةٍ وَلَغا

Like a sword called “Slasher,” though no blow has been struck

Like a sword called "slasher" though

with it by hands, nor has it lapped blood within a skull.

it did not strike with palms nor pierce with points

قَد هانَ مينٌ عَلى أَفواهِنا فَغَدا

قَد هانَ مينٌ عَلى أَفواهِنا فَغَدا

ذو النُسكِ غَيرَ مُبالٍ أَن يَكونَ لَغا

ذو النُسكِ غَيرَ مُبالٍ أَن يَكونَ لَغا

Falsehood has grown easy on our lips, so now

Swearing has become cheap on our tongues

the devout man cares not whether he has spoken idly.

So the pious care not if they indulge

وَأَروَحُ الرِزقِ ما وافاكَ في دِعَةٍ

وَأَروَحُ الرِزقِ ما وافاكَ في دِعَةٍ

حِلّاً وَقُسِّمَ في أَيّامِهِ بُلَغا

حِلّاً وَقُسِّمَ في أَيّامِهِ بُلَغا

And the most restful livelihood is what comes to you with ease,

The best livelihood is what comes to you easily

lawful, and apportioned day by day in sufficient portions.

Lawfully distributed in its days in plenty