1. O son of Zubayr, commander of the faithful, have you not
Been informed of what the workers did to their work?

2. The merchants sold the food of the land and divided up
The essence of the taxes stingily, like apportioning surplus.

3. And they presented to you a lying old man, a traitor.
No matter what a lying old man tells you, he lies.

4. And you have a seeker of rights, steadfast,
Tough, not to be bent or appeased.

5. Strengthen your hand through Zayd if you gain power over him,
And heal the widows from the oppression of taxes.

6. We are troubled by the arrogance of the clan of Khalif;
They see treachery as sweet as drinking water with honey.

7. Take Al-‘Usayfir and pluck the feathers of his uprising,
Until the evil melts away after being kindled.

8. And the trust of ‘Attab is not secure,
No hints about it, but the roads are confused.

9. And Qays Kindah, his rule has lasted long
In the land, between the plains and mountains.

10. And take Hujayr and follow him with reckoning,
And if you pardon him, do not pardon the clan of Qufal.

11. I do not doubt them except for their haughtiness
And disdain for flatbread and onions.

12. No boy owns land as safely
As one who conquered the desert not girded for war,

13. Collecting land taxes while lounging
Mocking the loss of the close-cropped hair of monks.

14. And al-Waleeby whom Mihran made prince
So Mihran is blamed and always will be.

15. And you have the son of Abi ‘Ish and his companion
It is said al-Saba’ so he went his way slowly.

16. And Manqudh ibn Tareef of Bani Asad
I have heard his agent has gone heavily laden.

17. And what prevents Al-Khaynis Ja’fi
From goods is staying up late in the dark.

18. And ad-Darimi circles the Bahraman around him
In a drink changed into pasturing camels.

19. And two other agents with them
Some gain if you deal gently with it you will attain.

20. Muhammad ibn ‘Umayr whom Bakr
Wronged one morning in fright and panic.

21. And it is said Frat is pious but
If he gained something through that fearful trembling man.

22. And al-Harithy will be content if you share with him
If you overlook his first misdeeds.

23. And summon the Qara’ and refute them with logic
And blame the treachery of Mas’ud on a camel.

24. They used to come to us as men without mounts
Yet today they are the people of horses and camels.

25. They will not blame you, nor will their resolution falter
From the striking of whips and further tightening of fetters.

26. When the whips bite their legs
They reveal hidden treasures of wealth and fine clothes.