ابداً يُسَرُّ اخو الجهالة بِالَّذي

ابداً يُسَرُّ اخو الجهالة بِالَّذي

يُعطاهُ من دَهرٍ خَؤونٍ صالفِ

يُعطاهُ من دَهرٍ خَؤونٍ صالفِ

The ignorant man is ever pleased with what

The ignorant man is always pleased with what

He is given by treacherous, haughty Time;

An unkind fate grants him,

كالضأن تحسَبُ عَلفها حبّالها

كالضأن تحسَبُ عَلفها حبّالها

لكنهُ في الحقِّ عَلف العالفِ

لكنهُ في الحقِّ عَلف العالفِ

Like sheep that take their fodder as love for them,

Like sheep who think their tether is their food,

But in truth it is food for the feeder.

Though truly it's the herder's rope.