1. A night with an effulgent moon whose height astounds me
I see a crescent moon approach, humbling its rising

2. And I stayed awake in the expanse of obscurity, dwelling in a palace
With a visitor who made intimacy delightful

3. Since there is no means for the sleepless to die of it
Along with the breeze while he is still plucking its branches

4. The latter part of life is recurring news
And the nearer part of life is its beginnings, empty of purpose

5. Youth expires when fully completed
And nothing makes up for its loss when perfected

6. And a man's prime is succeeded by his liberation from youth
Passed years arrive, then so does their successor

7. If one escapes the severity of days by being prudent
Prudence is escaping one whom you cannot fight

8. So if my friend defects in affection, how
I become, at night, more cautious than I was hopeful in the morning

9. It suffices you, as preparation for an age you compose,
As treasure: the generosity of Abu Bakr and its obtainment

10. He dwells among them, and he alone possesses it
Lofty in his actions, while the envious are debased in relation to him

11. They singled him out with whatever good he chooses
So he has no peer among them to contend with him

12. When we came to him, our goods were not devalued
And nothing prevented what we came desiring to obtain

13. Whenever you observe him, custom flows from his hand
To the destitute, direct in method, its conduit

14. Burdened each day with their troubles
A weight he contends with and contends against

15. We would not have regained Baghdad, had it not been for our fortune through him
And we would not have wanted Wasit, were it not for his bonus deeds

16. He strips himself of wealth, conferring bounties while we dress him in
Something of praise his matchless counterparts have not created

17. We show him how the breeze of gratitude is expiring
Its sides, and we show him how we hope for it

18. Leave one whom loftiness has eluded with its extension
To die of spite while you attain what he cannot attain

19. Your house rises above Marw's horizon and
Excellence can be increased by the excellence of its inhabitants

20. The rain is made good only by what it relates of you
Rushing to you as its pouring trails you

21. And the moon has no merit but what it was enamored with
That it may shine and raise its stations through you