إنif شِئْتَyou wish عِزّاًhonor فاغْشَthen go to أبْdoors (first part)
إن شِئْتَ عِزّاً فاغْشَ أبْ
وابَdoors (remaining part) المُلوكِthe kings ولاand do not تُبَلْcare
وابَ المُلوكِ ولا تُبَلْ
If you desire honor, go to the doors
If you desire glory, besiege the doors
of kings, and do not fret;
Of kings, but do not approach.
فالذّلُّfor humiliation منfrom قِبَلthe side of المُلوthe kings (first part)
فالذّلُّ من قِبَل المُلو
كِthe kings (remaining part) أجَلُّnobler منthan عِزِّhonor of الخَوَلْthe servants
كِ أجَلُّ من عِزِّ الخَوَلْ
for humiliation at the hands of kings
For humiliation from kings
is nobler than the honor of servants.
Is nobler than the glory of slaves.