إذا حكم الخطا قتل الصواب

فلا شرع هناك ولا كتاب

When error rules, what is right is slain.

Then there is no law there, nor any scripture.

وأعلم ذا الملا يعنو ويدنو

وأجهلهم يسود ويستهاب

And the most learned of this gathering bows and draws near,

While their most ignorant rules and is feared.

فلا عجب إذا ما السحب هارت

ولا بدع إذا شيد الضباب

So no wonder if the clouds collapse,

Nor is it strange if the fog is built up.

وللحصباء في البطحاء ريّ

وفي العلياء للشهب التهاب

And the pebbles on the valley floor are sated with water,

And in the heights the meteors blaze.

وإن تكُنِ الحصى للوطء عدت

وللجليان قد عدّ الشهاب

And if the pebbles are allotted to be trodden underfoot,

And the meteor has been allotted to give light,

فَما للجاهلينَ سِوى اِفتِقار

ولو تبرا لهم عاد التراب

Then the ignorant have nothing but poverty,

Even if the dust turns to gold for them.

وما لذوي النهى إلا ارتواء

ولو أجرى اللظى لهم السحاب

And those endowed with reason know only quenched thirst,

Even if the clouds pour out flames for them.

فما نفع الجهول غداة خطب

وأين نراه إن جد الطلاب

So what use is the ignorant man in a time of calamity?

And where do we see him if the quest grows earnest?

إذا حاز الغنى أضحى لئيما

وليس يروقه إلا الخراب

When he gains wealth, he becomes vile,

And nothing pleases him but ruin.

يجد وراء كل ردي وشر

وينصب كلما خفضت رقاب

He strives after all ruin and evil,

And he toils whenever necks are bowed.

لأن الجهل يورث كل طبع

قبيح فالجهول إذن مصاب

For ignorance engenders every disposition

That is vile; thus the ignorant man is afflicted.

وإن أعطى السيادة وفق دهر

بغى ولبغيِه شاب الغراب

And if time's favor grants him sovereignty,

He tyrannizes, and his tyranny turns the raven gray.

فتنحب يوم موتته المعاصي

وتنبح يوم مولده الكلاب

So sins wail on the day of his death,

And dogs bark on the day of his birth.

فيحيا آثماً ويموت كفرا

وينشر كي يداهيه العقاب

So he lives as a sinner and dies in unbelief,

And is resurrected so that punishment may assail him.