إِذا المَرءُ صَوَّرَ لِلناظِرينَ

إِذا المَرءُ صَوَّرَ لِلناظِرينَ

فَقَد سارَ في شَرِّ نَهجٍ سُلِك

فَقَد سارَ في شَرِّ نَهجٍ سُلِك

If a man makes images for onlookers,

When a man portrays to onlookers

Then he has taken the worst path ever trodden.

He has embarked on an evil path, beware

أَرى العِلجَ في قَفرِهِ مُعتَقاً

أَرى العِلجَ في قَفرِهِ مُعتَقاً

وَلاقى الهَوانَ جَوادٌ مُلِك

وَلاقى الهَوانَ جَوادٌ مُلِك

I see the wild ass in its wilderness, at liberty,

I see the stallion roaming free

And a noble steed, held as property, has suffered humiliation.

While the noble steed is brought down in shame

وَما حَظُّهُ في حِزامٍ يُشَدُّ

وَما حَظُّهُ في حِزامٍ يُشَدُّ

لِيُركَبَ أَو في لِجامٍ أُلِك

لِيُركَبَ أَو في لِجامٍ أُلِك

And what does it gain from a girth tightened

He is not meant for girded loins

So it may be ridden, or from a bit that is chewed?

To be ridden or led about on a rope

وَكَم أَولَدَ المَلِكُ المُستَباةَ

وَكَم أَولَدَ المَلِكُ المُستَباةَ

وَكَم نَكَحَ العَبدُ بِنتَ المَلِك

وَكَم نَكَحَ العَبدُ بِنتَ المَلِك

And how often has a king fathered children by a captive woman,

Many are the king’s illicit sons

And how often has a slave married the king’s daughter!

Many are the slave’s brides of noble birth