ياO متعباًone who wearies بنقوشِwith the tracery of الخَطِّscript أَنملَهhis fingertips
يا متعباً بنقوشِ الخَطِّ أَنملَه
وَساهرَand one who keeps vigil اللّيلِthe night لَمdid not يَرقُدrest وَلَمand did not يَنَمِsleep
وَساهرَ اللّيلِ لَم يَرقُد وَلَم يَنَمِ
O you who weary your fingertips with the tracery of script,
O weary with the patterns of calligraphy
And keep vigil through the night, neither resting nor sleeping,
Staying up all night, never sleeping nor napping
دَعleave عَنكَaside from you ماwhat راحَتbegan to الأَقلامthe pens تنقشُهُinscribe it
دَع عَنكَ ما راحَت الأَقلام تنقشُهُ
فيon صَفحةِthe face of السيفِthe sword ماthat which يُغنيsuffices عنِin place of القلمِthe pen
في صَفحةِ السيفِ ما يُغني عنِ القلمِ
Set aside what the pens have been inscribing;
Leave what pens have etched with such ease
On the face of the sword is what makes the pen needless.
On the page of the sword, the pen cannot appease