لا تَمدَحَنَّ فَتىً تَرجو نَوافِلَهُ

لا تَمدَحَنَّ فَتىً تَرجو نَوافِلَهُ

وَلا تَزُر غَيرَهُ ما عاشَ عَبّادُ

وَلا تَزُر غَيرَهُ ما عاشَ عَبّادُ

Never praise a young man whose gifts you hope for,

Do not lavish praise on a youth in hopes of his generosity,

nor visit anyone else as long as ʿAbbād lives.

Nor blame others while they live as subjects.

إِذا تَرَحَّلَ أَقوامٌ أَجَرتَهُمُ

إِذا تَرَحَّلَ أَقوامٌ أَجَرتَهُمُ

عادَت إِلَيكَ بِما يَثنونَ عُوّادُ

عادَت إِلَيكَ بِما يَثنونَ عُوّادُ

When people you have sheltered depart,

When people depart, their true feelings for you

visitors return to you bearing their praises.

Will return with what they say behind your back.

أَلَستَ غَيثَ حَياً لِلناسِ ماطِرُهُ

أَلَستَ غَيثَ حَياً لِلناسِ ماطِرُهُ

وَكُلُّ غَيثٍ لَهُ في الأَرضِ رُوّادُ

وَكُلُّ غَيثٍ لَهُ في الأَرضِ رُوّادُ

Are you not life-giving rain, pouring it down upon the people?

Are you not a raincloud whose rain brings life to mankind?

And every rain has seekers upon the earth.

Every raincloud has receivers of its rain on earth.