1. I shall not forget the night of a dear friend
Who visited and entertained me with strange tales

2. Describing beautifully with excellent skill
And whose poetry taste is sound and sublime

3. He told me wondrous stories till dawn
As if I were listening to a charming minstrel

4. A jealous nosy neighbor told me
He always wanders aimlessly around

5. I tried to appease his unreasonable anger
Not knowing this villain

6. Was envious of me and settled
As a foe of the virtuous and wise

7. So he went to the town judge
Claiming I am extremely violent

8. No one is safe from my sharp tongue
If you like a strong opinion

9. Punish him with jail or exile
For my sin is indeed tremendous

10. The wise and judicious judge
Saw that ruling without certainty

11. Is not the way of a discerning sage
So he called me, as a forbearing judge would

12. To verify the nonsense
That envious scoundrel spewed

13. And repeated the supposed sins
I am completely innocent of

14. And asked those present
To hear me after my opponent's talk

15. The gathered crowd was eager
To see what stupid monkey I might be

16. I said: O just judge
This accuser has maligned me

17. That ignorant envious fool
Thought to lower my status as a leader

18. And plotted my demise
With evil intent from of old

19. The reason for his resentment
Was a night in days gone by

20. When I was with fine gentlemen
Who appreciated my prose and verse

21. And said: You are a cave of treasures
Describe the ignorant and the wise

22. I said: The epitome of ignorance
Is one who believes, completely deluded

23. That humans descended
From the lineage of apes, what a dear friend!

24. Just look, O best of all who look
How the disgrace of ignorance is all-encompassing

25. As I continued my talk
This scoundrel challenged me

26. Saying this is worthless drivel
Next to the words of the wise

27. I asked who said that and what was mentioned
He said my thoughts are fruitless

28. Then those present,
Noble in origin and spirit

29. Scolded that envious rotted tree
With harsh rebukes

30. And said the moon is not shamed
By the barking of a dog, though it be full

31. At this the crowds parted
And a youth slender like a sapling

32. Called out eloquently
Yes, by the Lord of the Throne, this villain

33. Is envious and causes rifts between people
Rather he is a foe of the noble and generous

34. I was infatuated with a gazelle-eyed beauty
Without parallel among the lovely ladies

35. And she would not choose me over another
So this odious envious one maligned me

36. And caused her to spurn me
After I had hoped for bliss

37. After this, a respected elder
Of esteemed noble lineage

38. Said there is no surprise that a vulgar lout
Would envy this handsome youth

39. But it is strange how he betrayed me
Jealously harming the sanctity of this aged man

40. It happened when I visited a dear friend
As close as a sibling to me

41. He welcomed me warmly like a caring lover
And all the honorable attended with me

42. In his esteemed gathering
Were those respected for age or status

43. But this envious fiend
Kept giving me the evil eye

44. Then the next day he mocked me
Among the witnesses as if I were lost and confused

45. Giving the impression to my companions
That old age left me with no wit

46. I was astonished at his deed
And diminishing my worth to the likes of him

47. When I had no crime except his ignorance
So I deemed it best to avoid that villain

48. For keeping away is what the prudent do
When faced with a foe of virtue and enemy of the distinguished

49. If it is said so-and-so is of good repute
He will say this news is not true

50. And if you inform him of a murder or calamity
He will not consider that a great loss

51. Just as if you brought news
Of wealth or blessings attained

52. If you try to please him, he'll be angry
And if you agree with him, he'll lie

53. And if you entertain him, he'll complain
Fearing the happy one might be too cheerful

54. So the joy of people is unforgivable
To this transgressing sinner

55. At this the judge called out:
O envious unjust one

56. What mercy has the law,
The noble and generous sharī'ah, ruled out?

57. Killing you would set an example
For your murder is a tremendous reward