إِن يَنثُروا الدُرَّ مِن مَجدٍ فَما نَثَروا

إِن يَنثُروا الدُرَّ مِن مَجدٍ فَما نَثَروا

أَو يَنظِموا الدُرَّ في حَمدٍ فَما نَظَموا

أَو يَنظِموا الدُرَّ في حَمدٍ فَما نَظَموا

If they scatter pearls of glory, they have scattered nothing;

Though they scatter pearls of glory, yet not scattered they,

Or string pearls in praise, they have strung nothing.

Or string the pearls in lines of praise, composed their lay,

كُلٌّ لَهُ حاجَةٌ مِنّا بِصاحِبِهِ

كُلٌّ لَهُ حاجَةٌ مِنّا بِصاحِبِهِ

فَالمَدحُ عِندي كَما المَعروفُ عِندَكُمُ

فَالمَدحُ عِندي كَما المَعروفُ عِندَكُمُ

Each of us has need of his companion.

Each one of us hath need of other, each his friend doth prize,

So praise is in my keeping, as kindness is in yours.

To me all praise is pleasant, as gifts are to your eyes,

سَبَقتُمُ بي كَما أَنّي سَبَقتُ بِكُم

سَبَقتُمُ بي كَما أَنّي سَبَقتُ بِكُم

فَالسَبقُ مُقتَسَمٌ بَيني وَبَينَكُمُ

فَالسَبقُ مُقتَسَمٌ بَيني وَبَينَكُمُ

You have gained precedence through me, just as I have through you;

Ye were beforehand with me, e'en as I with you,

So precedence is shared between me and you.

So we and you have shared the race, your swiftness to pursue.