أَنا ابن الَّذي إِن قالَ صُدِّق قَوله

أَنا ابن الَّذي إِن قالَ صُدِّق قَوله

وَلَم يَك بَينَ الناس فيهِ خِلاف

وَلَم يَك بَينَ الناس فيهِ خِلاف

I am the son of one whose word is believed whenever he speaks.

I am the son of he whose word, if spoken, is believed

And among the people there was no dispute over his word.

And among people regarding him there is no dispute.

مُهيب مُطاع القَول مِن غَيرِ خُطّة

مُهيب مُطاع القَول مِن غَيرِ خُطّة

عَفيف وَزين الفاضلين عَفاف

عَفيف وَزين الفاضلين عَفاف

Held in awe, his word obeyed, without holding office.

Of awe-inspiring authority, obeyed without effort,

Chaste—and chastity is the ornament of the virtuous.

Chaste, an adornment and exemplar of noble manners.

عَلَيهِ ثِيابٌ حشوهن دَماثة

عَلَيهِ ثِيابٌ حشوهن دَماثة

حسان تَروق الناظِرين نِظاف

حسان تَروق الناظِرين نِظاف

He wears garments whose lining is gentleness.

He wears clothes lined with softness,

Beautiful, pleasing to onlookers, and clean.

Beautifully pleasing to beholders in their elegance.

بِأَنمله ماضي الطعان مُثَقَفٌ

بِأَنمله ماضي الطعان مُثَقَفٌ

خُطاه إِلى الطَعن الرَكين خِفاف

خُطاه إِلى الطَعن الرَكين خِفاف

At his fingertips is a straightened spear, keen in thrusting.

With his fingers the accomplished swordsman is adept,

His steps toward steady thrusting are light.

His steps toward fierce battle nimble and light.

إِذا إِزداد طَعناً لاءمَ الدَهر سمتَه

إِذا إِزداد طَعناً لاءمَ الدَهر سمتَه

وَيَطعنُ قَصداً وَالطِعان صِداف

وَيَطعنُ قَصداً وَالطِعان صِداف

When he thrusts more, Time accords with his bearing.

When he thrusts more with his blade he blames fate,

And he thrusts straight, though thrusting is sidelong.

And he thrusts with purpose while the thrusts are true.