نجوتُ القَنا والبيضُ تدمى مُتونُها

نجوتُ القَنا والبيضُ تدمى مُتونُها

ولم أنجُ يوماً من مقالِ سَفِيهِ

ولم أنجُ يوماً من مقالِ سَفِيهِ

I escaped the lances while the bright swords' backs were bloodied.

The eggs survived, though their shells were stained with blood,

Yet never did I escape a fool's words.

But never once did I escape the words of a fool.

ففخرُ الفتى بالفضلِ منه وعنده

ففخرُ الفتى بالفضلِ منه وعنده

أجلُّ له من فخرهِ بأبيهِ

أجلُّ له من فخرهِ بأبيهِ

For a young man's pride in excellence that comes from him and resides in him

For a man's pride in his merit comes from within himself,

Is nobler for him than his pride in his father.

Far greater for him than pride in his father.

فكمْ بين عِرْضٍ سالمٍ ومُمزَّقٍ

فكمْ بين عِرْضٍ سالمٍ ومُمزَّقٍ

وكم بين مرءٍ خاملٍ ونبيهِ

وكم بين مرءٍ خاملٍ ونبيهِ

How vast the difference between honor intact and honor torn,

How great the gulf between chaste honor and disgrace!

And how vast the difference between an obscure man and one renowned.

How great the difference between sluggard and hero!

وكم قلتُ للنّفسِ العَزوفِ لَدى الوغى

وكم قلتُ للنّفسِ العَزوفِ لَدى الوغى

رِدِي مَكْرَعاً من قبل أنْ تَرِدِيهِ

رِدِي مَكْرَعاً من قبل أنْ تَرِدِيهِ

And how often I said to my reluctant soul amid battle:

Often I've said to my reckless soul, fleeing from strife:

Go to a watering place before you must go to it.

"Turn back, lest you be turned back against your will!"

ولا تَطلبي منّي الفِرارَ على الرّدى

ولا تَطلبي منّي الفِرارَ على الرّدى

فإنّك إنْ رُمتِيهِ لم تجِدِيهِ

فإنّك إنْ رُمتِيهِ لم تجِدِيهِ

And do not ask me to choose flight over death,

Do not ask me to flee ruin and shame,

For if you seek it, you will not find it.

For if you seek to cast it off, you'll ne'er be rid of it.