لَا يَمْتَطِي الْمَجْدَ مَنْ لَمْ يَرْكَبِ lyrics

لَا يَمْتَطِي الْمَجْدَ مَنْ لَمْ يَرْكَبِ الْخَطَرَا ① وَلَا يَنَالُ الْعُلَىٰ مَنْ قَدَّمَ الْحَذَرَا

No one rides glory who does not ride danger, and no one attains high status who prioritizes caution.

وَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْعُلَىٰ عَفْوًا بِلَا تَعَبٍ ② قَضَىٰ وَلَمْ يَقْضِ مِنْ إِدْرَاكِهَا وَطَرَا

And whoever desires high status effortlessly, without toil, will pass away without fulfilling their desire for it.

لَا بُدَّ لِلشَّهْدِ مِنْ نَحْلٍ يُمَنِّعُهُ ③ لَا يَجْتَنِي النَّفْعَ مَنْ لَمْ يَحْمِلِ الضَّرَرَا

There must be bees to protect the honey; no one reaps benefit who does not bear harm.

لَا يُبْلَغُ السُّؤْلُ إِلَّا بَعْدَ مُؤْلِمَةٍ ④ وَلَا يَتِمُّ الْمُنَىٰ إِلَّا لِمَنْ صَبَرَا

Desires are not achieved except after suffering, and hopes are not fulfilled except for those who are patient.

وَأَحْزَمُ النَّاسِ مَنْ لَوْ مَاتَ مِنْ ظَمَإٍ ⑤ لَا يَقْرَبُ الْوِرْدَ حَتَّىٰ يَعْرِفَ الصَّدَرَا

And the most resolute of people is he who, even if he were to die of thirst, would not approach the watering hole until he knows the way back.

وَأَغْزَرُ النَّاسِ عَقْلاً مَنْ إِذَا نَظَرَتْ ⑥ عَيْنَاهُ أَمْرًا غَدًا بِالْغَيْرِ مُعْتَبِرَا

And the most abundant in intellect among people is he whose eyes, when they see a matter, consider what will happen tomorrow through others.

فَقَدْ يُقَالُ عِثَارُ الرِّجْلِ إِنْ عَثَرَتْ ⑦ وَلَا يُقَالُ عِثَارُ الرَّأْيِ إِنْ عَثَرَا

For a stumble of the foot may be excused if it trips, but a stumble of judgment is not excused if it errs.

مَنْ دَبَّرَ الْعَيْشَ بِالْآرَاءِ دَامَ لَهُ ⑧ صَفْوًا وَجَاءَ إِلَيْهِ الْخَطْبُ مُعْتَذِرَا

Whoever manages life with sound opinions, it remains pure for him, and misfortune comes to him apologizing.

يَهُونُ بِالرَّأْيِ مَا يَجْرِي الْقَضَاءُ بِهِ ⑨ مَنْ أَخْطَأَ الرَّأْيَ لَا يَسْتَذْنِبُ الْقَدَرَا

By sound judgment, what fate decrees becomes easy; whoever errs in judgment should not blame destiny.

مَنْ فَاتَهُ الْعِزُّ بِالْإِقْدَامِ أَدْرَكَهُ ⑩ بِالْبِيضِ يَقْدَحُ مِنْ أَعْطَافِهَا الشَّرَرَا

Whoever missed glory by daring, attained it with white (swords) striking sparks from their sides.

بِكُلِّ أَبْيَضَ قَدْ أَجْرَى الْفِرِنْدُ بِهِ ⑪ مْاءَ الرَّدَا فَلَوِ اسْتَقْطَرْتَهُ قَطَرَا

With every white (sword) whose damascene pattern has flowed with the water of death, if you were to extract it, it would drip.

خَاضَ الْعَجَاجَةَ عُرْيَانًا فَمَا انْقَشَعَتْ ⑫ حَتَّىٰ أَتَىٰ بِدَمِ الْأَبْطَالِ مُؤْتَزِرَا

He plunged into the dust cloud naked, and it did not clear until he emerged clothed in the blood of heroes.

لَا يَحْسُنُ الْحِلْمُ إِلَّا فِي مَوَاطِنِهِ ⑬ وَلَا يَلِيقُ الْوَفَا إِلَّا لِمَنْ شَكَرَ

Lā yaḥsunu al-ḥilmu illā fī mawāṭinihi wa-lā yalīqu al-wafā illā li-man shakara

Forbearance is only good in its proper places, and loyalty is only fitting for those who are grateful.