شيآن تَقذى مِنهُما

شيآن تَقذى مِنهُما

عين البَصيرَة والبَصيرِ

عين البَصيرَة والبَصيرِ

Two things irritate

Two things that the wise should flee,

the eye of insight and of the clear-sighted.

The insight of the seer and the seeing eye;

إني بلَوتُ كِلَيهِما

إني بلَوتُ كِلَيهِما

بالحسِّ والعقلِ الخبيرِ

بالحسِّ والعقلِ الخبيرِ

I have indeed tested them both

I have tested them both

through the senses and a seasoned mind.

With keen senses and discerning mind.

لو قِيلَ يا ذا ما هُما

لو قِيلَ يا ذا ما هُما

ناديتُ بالصوتِ الجهيرِ

ناديتُ بالصوتِ الجهيرِ

Were I asked, 'You there, what are they?'

If told: O you, what are they?

I would cry out in a ringing voice:

I'd cry out in loudest voice:

حَرَدُ الكبيرِ على الأصا

حَرَدُ الكبيرِ على الأصا

غِرِ والفضولُ من الصغير

غِرِ والفضولُ من الصغير

The elder's wrath against the younger

The pride of the aged in his staff

ones, and meddling from the younger one.

Is folly, as is the youth's arrogance.

فالأَوَّليُّ رايتهُ

فالأَوَّليُّ رايتهُ

تركاً لواجبةِ الأُمورِ

تركاً لواجبةِ الأُمورِ

So I regarded the former as

The first forsakes

neglect of obligatory duties;

His duty in worldly affairs,

والثانِ من سَفَهِ النُهى

والثانِ من سَفَهِ النُهى

وكلاهما ثَمَرُ الغُرورِ

وكلاهما ثَمَرُ الغُرورِ

and the latter springs from folly of mind,

The other is mad—though warned against it,

and both are the fruit of conceit.

And both are fruits of delusion.