لا يُزهِدَنَّكَ في المعروفِ تُودِعُه

لا يُزهِدَنَّكَ في المعروفِ تُودِعُه

مثلي ومن أينَ مثلي سُحْقُ أطمارِ

مثلي ومن أينَ مثلي سُحْقُ أطمارِ

Do not be deterred from bestowing kindness

Let not my like make you shun kindness.

on one like me—and where is my equal?—by threadbare rags.

Where can the like of me be found? May the ropes of the water-skin be cut off!

واستجلِ ما تحتَ أطمارِي الرِّثاثِ تَجِدْ

واستجلِ ما تحتَ أطمارِي الرِّثاثِ تَجِدْ

وراءَها طِيْبَ آثارٍ وأخبارِ

وراءَها طِيْبَ آثارٍ وأخبارِ

And examine what lies beneath my tattered rags; you will find

Seek beneath my worn-out saddle cloth, and you will find

behind them fine deeds and worthy accounts.

Behind it good traces and tales.

ليس المباذِلُ بالأحرارِ مُزْرِيَةً

ليس المباذِلُ بالأحرارِ مُزْرِيَةً

فالدُّرُ في صَدَفٍ والخمرُ في قارِ

فالدُّرُ في صَدَفٍ والخمرُ في قارِ

Everyday clothes do not demean noble men;

The generous is not made worthless by noble descent.

for pearls lie in shells, and wine in pitch-lined vessels.

The pearl is in an oyster shell, and wine is in a jar.

أنا ابنُ فضلي على ما كان من شرفي

أنا ابنُ فضلي على ما كان من شرفي

فدَعْ جدودِي ولا تُولَعْ بأسمارِ

فدَعْ جدودِي ولا تُولَعْ بأسمارِ

I am the son of my own merit, whatever my nobility of birth may be;

I am the son of my past nobility

so leave my forefathers aside, and do not be enthralled by nighttime tales.

So leave my ancestors be, and do not cling to saddle girths.

فالمِسكُ في هامةِ الجبَّارِ موطِئُهُ

فالمِسكُ في هامةِ الجبَّارِ موطِئُهُ

لِطيبهِ وهو منسوبٌ إِلى الفَارِ

لِطيبهِ وهو منسوبٌ إِلى الفَارِ

For musk has its place upon the mighty ruler's head,

For musk is placed on the chieftain's cowlick

because of its fragrance, though it is traced to the mouse.

Due to its fragrance, though it is attributed to the rat.