رُبمّاsometimes أَعجزthwarted الفَتىthe young man الامرُthe matter سعياًstriving
رُبمّا أَعجز الفَتى الامرُ سعياً
واجتهاداًand exertion وجآءَهُand it came to him مَجّاناfor free
واجتهاداً وجآءَهُ مَجّانا
Sometimes a matter eludes a young man despite his striving
And exertion, yet comes to him for free.
انماonly الامرthe matter بعضَsome حينٍtime كمهرٍlike a colt
انما الامر بعضَ حينٍ كمهرٍ
لَمdid not يَزِدincrease بالسياطunder the whips الّاexcept حِراناstubborn refusal to move
لَم يَزِد بالسياط الّا حِرانا
A matter is sometimes just like a colt
That grows only more obstinate under the whips.