Slow down, bright star, blame me less and reproach me not

مهلا نوار أقلي اللوم والعذل

1. Slow down, bright star, blame me less and reproach me not
And say not that something missed has happened

١. مَهلاً نَوارُ أَقِلّي اللَومَ وَالعَذَلا
وَلا تَقولي لِشَيءٍ فاتَ ما فَعَلا

2. And say not that I wasted wealth
Slow down, even if I give insanity and nonsense

٢. وَلا تَقولي لِمالٍ كُنتُ مُهلِكَهُ
مَهلاً وَإِن كُنتُ أُعطي الجِنَّ وَالخَبلا

3. The miser sees only one way to money
While the generous sees many ways in his money

٣. يَرى البَخيلُ سَبيلَ المالِ واحِدَةً
إِنَّ الجَوادَ يَرى في مالِهِ سُبُلا

4. When the miser dies, he is followed
By bad praise, while the heir takes away the camels

٤. إِنَّ البَخيلَ إِذا ما ماتَ يَتبَعُهُ
سوءُ الثَناءِ وَيَحوي الوارِثُ الإِبِلا

5. So speak the truth, for man is followed
By what he built when his bier was carried

٥. فَاِصدُق حَديثَكَ إِنَّ المَرءَ يَتبَعُهُ
ما كانَ يَبني إِذا ما نَعشُهُ حُمِلا

6. If only the miser would be seen by all people
As he sees them, he won’t be visited when he alights

٦. لَيتَ البَخيلَ يَراهُ الناسُ كُلُّهُمُ
كَما يَراهُم فَلا يُقرى إِذا نَزَلا

7. Do not blame me for wealth I connected through
Family ties, and the best way for wealth is what connects

٧. لا تَعذِليني عَلى مالٍ وَصَلتُ بِهِ
رَحماً وَخَيرُ سَبيلِ المالِ ما وَصَلا

8. The young man strives while death’s pigeons catch him
And each day brings the youth closer to his fate

٨. يَسعى الفَتى وَحِمامُ المَوتِ يُدرِكُهُ
وَكُلُّ يَومٍ يُدَنّي لِلفَتى الأَجَلا

9. I surely know that my day will reach me
And I will be busy with my worldly affairs

٩. إِنّي لَأَعلَمُ أَنّي سَوفَ يُدرِكُني
يَومي وَأُصبِحُ عَن دُنيايَ مُشتَغِلا

10. I wish I knew—if only others realized—
In what state did the clan of Thu’al end up?

١٠. فَلَيتَ شِعري وَلَيتٌ غَيرُ مُدرِكَةٍ
لِأَيِّ حالٍ بِها أَضحى بَنو ثُعَلا

11. Inform the clan of Thu’al sincerely from me
A message of purpose not of vanity or futility

١١. أَبلِغ بَني ثُعَلٍ عَنّي مُغَلغَلَةً
جَهدَ الرِسالَةِ لا مَحكاً وَلا بُطُلا

12. Raid, O clan of Thu’al, for raiding is your fortune
Count the miles and do not cry for one who lagged

١٢. أُغزوا بَني ثُعَلٍ فَالغَزوُ حَظُّكُمُ
عُدّوا الرَوابي وَلا تَبكوا لِمَن نَكَلا

13. Alas for you, may my mother who bore me ransom you
Defend your glory and stop those who became dependent

١٣. وَيهاً فِداؤُكُمُ أُمّي وَما وَلَدَت
حاموا عَلى مَجدِكُم وَاِكفوا مَنِ اِتَّكَلا

14. Since he who was absent from our tribe is gone
And war has bared a sharp molar

١٤. إِذ غابَ مَن غابَ عَنهُم مِن عَشيرَتِنا
وَأَبدَتِ الحَربُ ناباً كالِحاً عَصِلا

15. God knows I am of safekeeping
As long as my friend does not betray me seeking a replacement

١٥. اللَهُ يَعلَمُ أَنّي ذو مُحافَظَةٍ
ما لَم يَخُنّي خَليلي يَبتَغي بَدَلا

16. If he changes then he will find me a trusting brother
Virtuous, not weak or vacillating

١٦. فَإِن تَبَدَّلَ أَلفاني أَخا ثِقَةٍ
عَفَّ الخَليقَةِ لا نِكساً وَلا وَكِلا