سالَمتُ قَومي بَعدَ طولِ مَظاظَةٍ

سالَمتُ قَومي بَعدَ طولِ مَظاظَةٍ

وَالسِّلمُ أَبقَى في الأُمورِ وَأَعرَفُ

وَالسِّلمُ أَبقَى في الأُمورِ وَأَعرَفُ

I made peace with my people after long and bitter strife.

I made peace with my people after long hostility, for peace is more lasting and better recognized.

And peace is more enduring in affairs, and more fitting.

I abandoned the drinking of wine—though it was dear—and harlots; and leaving such things is more honorable.

وَتَركتُ شُربَ الرَّاحِ وَهيَ أَثِيرَةٌ

وَتَركتُ شُربَ الرَّاحِ وَهيَ أَثِيرَةٌ

وَالمومساتِ وَتَركُ ذَلِكَ أَشرَفُ

وَالمومساتِ وَتَركُ ذَلِكَ أَشرَفُ

And I gave up drinking wine, though it was dear to me,

I abstained from it, O Umayma, out of nobility; for thus acts the man of wisdom and restraint.

And prostitutes; giving that up is nobler.

وَعَفَفتُ عَنهُ يا أُمَيمُ تَكَرُّماً

وَعَفَفتُ عَنهُ يا أُمَيمُ تَكَرُّماً

وَكَذاكَ يَفعَلُ ذو الحِجى المُتَعَفِّفُ

وَكَذاكَ يَفعَلُ ذو الحِجى المُتَعَفِّفُ

And I abstained from it, O Umaym, out of nobility.

And thus acts the self-restrained man of understanding.