أما يستديمُ المرءُ نعمةَ ربّهِ

أما يستديمُ المرءُ نعمةَ ربّهِ

بإكرامِ أحرارِ الرجالِ ببابِهِ

بإكرامِ أحرارِ الرجالِ ببابِهِ

Does a man not make his Lord’s blessing endure

Does a man not preserve his Lord's blessing

by honoring noble men at his door,

by honoring noble men at his door,

ويعلم أنَّ الحمدَ والذمَّ للفتى

ويعلم أنَّ الحمدَ والذمَّ للفتى

حذيَّتُهُ في إذنه وحجابِهِ

حذيَّتُهُ في إذنه وحجابِهِ

and know that praise and blame, for a man,

and know that praise and blame are a man's

are his two recompenses for granting or denying admittance?

recompense for granting admission and barring access?

عجبتُ لمن لَم يَنوِ خَيراً لزائرٍ

عجبتُ لمن لَم يَنوِ خَيراً لزائرٍ

ولا بذلَ ما يبغيه من غَلْقِ بابِهِ

ولا بذلَ ما يبغيه من غَلْقِ بابِهِ

I marvel at one who bestows no kindness upon a visitor,

I marvel that one who intends neither kindness to a visitor

nor parts with what he means to keep by shutting his door.

nor the granting of what he seeks should shut his door.

وأعجبُ من هذا إباحَةُ عرضهِ

وأعجبُ من هذا إباحَةُ عرضهِ

بصَوْن خَسيسَيْ طُعمهِ وشرابِهِ

بصَوْن خَسيسَيْ طُعمهِ وشرابِهِ

More astonishing still, he exposes his honor

And more astonishing than this is his exposing his honor

to safeguard his paltry food and drink.

to save his paltry food and drink.