وَلَولا الشِعرُ بِالعُلَماءِ يُزري

وَلَولا الشِعرُ بِالعُلَماءِ يُزري

لَكُنتُ اليَومَ أَشعَرَ مِن لَبيدِ

لَكُنتُ اليَومَ أَشعَرَ مِن لَبيدِ

And were it not that poetry lowers scholars' standing,

Were it not for poetry being scorned by scholars,

I would today be a greater poet than Labid,

I would be today a greater poet than Labid.

وَأَشجَعَ في الوَغي مِن كُلِّ لَيثٍ

وَأَشجَعَ في الوَغي مِن كُلِّ لَيثٍ

وَآلِ مُهَلَّبٍ وَبَني يَزيدِ

وَآلِ مُهَلَّبٍ وَبَني يَزيدِ

And braver in battle than every lion,

And in battle bolder than any lion,

And the family of Muhallab and the sons of Yazid.

Or the tribe of Muhallab or the sons of Yazid.

وَلَولا خَشيَّةُ الرَحمَنِ رَبّي

وَلَولا خَشيَّةُ الرَحمَنِ رَبّي

حَسِبتُ الناسَ كُلَّهُمُ عَبيدي

حَسِبتُ الناسَ كُلَّهُمُ عَبيدي

And were it not for fear of the Most Merciful, my Lord,

And were it not for fear of the Lord my God,

I would regard all people as my slaves.

I would deem all men to be my slaves.