يا مُؤثِراً صُحبةَ السلطان إنَّ لها

يا مُؤثِراً صُحبةَ السلطان إنَّ لها

صَفواً يروق ولكن غِبَّه كدرُ

صَفواً يروق ولكن غِبَّه كدرُ

O you who prefer the sultan's company, it has

O you who prefer the company of rulers, it has

a pleasing clarity, but murk follows it.

A charm that pleases, but its ignorance is murky.

مُماثلى لا أَزال الدهرَ ذا حَذَر

مُماثلى لا أَزال الدهرَ ذا حَذَر

منه وليس متى ما شاءَ يقتدر

منه وليس متى ما شاءَ يقتدر

My equal—I remain forever wary

I have never ceased being wary

of him, though he cannot exercise power whenever he wishes.

Of it, and not whenever he wishes, can he master it.

فكيف من يَنقُد الأجيال قاطبة

فكيف من يَنقُد الأجيال قاطبة

مُستَصغراً وإذا يَجفو جَفا البَشر

مُستَصغراً وإذا يَجفو جَفا البَشر

Then what of one who disparages all generations,

So how can one who belittles generations,

deeming them insignificant—and when he shuns you, mankind shuns you?

Condescending, and if he is cold, humans are cold to him.

وكلما شاءَ حُكماً فيكِ أنفذه

وكلما شاءَ حُكماً فيكِ أنفذه

متى يشاءَ ومنه ليس تَنتَصر

متى يشاءَ ومنه ليس تَنتَصر

And whenever he wishes to pass judgment on you, he enforces it

And whenever he wants a decree against you executed,

whenever he pleases, and you can gain no redress against him.

He does so whenever he wants, and from him you will not gain victory.

إنَّ الملوك متى تَستَقرِ نارَهُم

إنَّ الملوك متى تَستَقرِ نارَهُم

يَحرِقك قبل اِبتغاءٍ للقِرى الشَرر

يَحرِقك قبل اِبتغاءٍ للقِرى الشَرر

Indeed, whenever you seek out the fire of kings,

Indeed when kings settle, their fire

the sparks burn you before you can seek hospitality.

Will burn you before seeking the evil of villages.