إن أنتَ لم تَرْعَ وأنت المفضالْ

إن أنتَ لم تَرْعَ وأنت المفضالْ

لنا حقوقاً أوجبتْها أقوالْ

لنا حقوقاً أوجبتْها أقوالْ

If you fail to show us regard, though you are the munificent one,

If you do not honor—though you are so generous—

we have claims upon you that these verses have made binding:

our rights, made binding by words

فيها أماديحٌ صِيابٌ أمثالْ

فيها أماديحٌ صِيابٌ أمثالْ

فلْترعَ فينا لا عَدَتْك الآمالْ

فلْترعَ فينا لا عَدَتْك الآمالْ

they hold panegyrics, unerring shafts, and maxims.

containing apt praises and proverbial sayings,

So show us regard—may hopes never pass you by—

then honor in us—may hopes never pass you by—

حقَّ الذي أعطاك وهْوَ الفعّالْ

حقَّ الذي أعطاك وهْوَ الفعّالْ

أنك مسئولٌ وأنا سُؤَّالْ

أنك مسئولٌ وأنا سُؤَّالْ

and honor the due of Him who gave to you, the Doer of all.

the due of Him who gave to you, the great Doer:

For you are the one petitioned, and I am forever petitioning.

you are the one petitioned, and we are petitioners.

تفاوتَتْ منَّا ومنك الأحوالْ

تفاوتَتْ منَّا ومنك الأحوالْ

فأنت معمور ونحن أعطالْ

فأنت معمور ونحن أعطالْ

How vastly different are our fortunes, yours and ours:

Our circumstances and yours differ greatly;

you are a giver, while we are empty-handed;

so you are flourishing, while we are bereft.

وأنت مَوْسومٌ ونحن أغفالْ

وأنت مَوْسومٌ ونحن أغفالْ

سالمَك المالُ وعادانا المالْ

سالمَك المالُ وعادانا المالْ

you are marked out, while we are blank and unmarked.

And you are marked out, while we are unmarked.

Wealth is at peace with you, and wealth is our foe.

Wealth has made peace with you, and wealth has been hostile to us.

وشكر تفضيلِ الرجال الأفضالْ

وشكر تفضيلِ الرجال الأفضالْ

فافعلْ جميلاً ساعدتْك الأفعالْ

فافعلْ جميلاً ساعدتْك الأفعالْ

The thanks for being favored above other men is to bestow favors.

And generosity is gratitude for distinction among men;

So do a kindness—may your deeds stand by you.

so do a kindness—may deeds come to your aid.