طَلِّقِdivorce الغِرَّةَheedlessness الَّتيwhich أَنتَyou فيهاin it
طَلِّقِ الغِرَّةَ الَّتي أَنتَ فيها
وَتَأَهَّلand wed بِفَطنَةِwith the discernment of الأَذكِياءِthe clever
وَتَأَهَّل بِفَطنَةِ الأَذكِياءِ
Divorce the heedlessness in which you dwell,
Cast off the ignorance in which you live
And wed the discernment of the clever.
And adorn yourself with the wisdom of the wise
وَاِنتَهِزand seize فُرصَةَthe opportunity of الشَبيبَةِyouth فيهاin it
وَاِنتَهِز فُرصَةَ الشَبيبَةِ فيها
لاdo not تَكُنbe مِنamong عِصابَةِthe band of الأَشقِياءِthe wretched
لا تَكُن مِن عِصابَةِ الأَشقِياءِ
And seize youth's opportunity while it lasts;
Seize the opportunity of your youth
Do not be among the band of the wretched.
And be not of the company of the wretched
فَأَلَذُّfor the happiest of الأَنامِhumankind عِندِيَin my view عَيشاًin life
فَأَلَذُّ الأَنامِ عِندِيَ عَيشاً
مَنone who تَسَرّىtakes as a concubine بِخُلَّةِwith the companionship of السَرّاءِjoy
مَن تَسَرّى بِخُلَّةِ السَرّاءِ
For, to me, the mortal whose life is sweetest
For the most pleasant life, in my view
Is one who takes companionship with joy as his concubine.
Is to live thriftily in times of ease