مَن يَبغِ عِندِيَ نَحواً أَو يُرِد لُغَةً

مَن يَبغِ عِندِيَ نَحواً أَو يُرِد لُغَةً

فَما يُساعِفُ مِن هَذا وَلا هَذي

فَما يُساعِفُ مِن هَذا وَلا هَذي

Whoever seeks grammar from me or desires language—

Whoever craves poetry with me, or desires the language,

neither this nor that is forthcoming.

Neither this nor that shall avail him at all.

يَكفيكَ شَرّاً مِنَ الدُنيا وَمَنقَصَةً

يَكفيكَ شَرّاً مِنَ الدُنيا وَمَنقَصَةً

أَن لا يَبينَ لَكَ الهادي مِنَ الهاذي

أَن لا يَبينَ لَكَ الهادي مِنَ الهاذي

It is evil enough for you in this world, and a failing,

It should suffice you misfortune from life and deficiency

that you cannot tell the guide from the babbler.

That the guide cannot show you what misleads.