لمnot يبقremains حرa noble man اليهto him يختلفpeople resort
لم يبق حر اليه يختلف
بلrather كلevery نذلscoundrel عليهto him مختلفfrequented
بل كل نذل عليه مختلف
No noble man remains to whom people turn;
No longer do the free differ
rather, every scoundrel is sought out.
Rather, every lowlife differs with him
ياO فلكاcelestial sphere دارhas turned بالنذالةwith baseness والجهand ignorance (continued)
يا فلكا دار بالنذالة والجه
لcompletes 'ignorance' الىuntil كمhow long تدورyou turn ياO خرفdotard
ل الى كم تدور يا خرف
O celestial sphere that has turned with baseness and igno-
O heavens revolving in baseness and ignorance
rance—how long will you turn, O dotard?
For how long will you turn, O senility?
فعاقلso a wise man ماdoes not يبلwet أنملهhis fingertips
فعاقل ما يبل أنمله
وجاهلand an ignorant man باليدينwith both hands يغترفscoops up
وجاهل باليدين يغترف
So a wise man does not wet his fingertips,
So the wise does not wet his fingertip
while an ignorant man scoops with both hands.
While the ignorant draws in full hands