قُلْ لابْنِ شَلبُونٍ مَقالَ تَنَزُّهٍ

قُلْ لابْنِ شَلبُونٍ مَقالَ تَنَزُّهٍ

غَيرِي يُجاريك الهِجَاءَ فَجَارِ

غَيرِي يُجاريك الهِجَاءَ فَجَارِ

Say to Ibn Shalbūn, in words of dignified restraint:

Tell the son of Shalbūn of the words of dignified reproach:

Someone other than I vies with you in satire—so vie with him.

Let another rival you in vilification and abuse,

إِنَّا اقْتَسَمْنا خُطَّتَيْنا بَيْنَنا

إِنَّا اقْتَسَمْنا خُطَّتَيْنا بَيْنَنا

فَحَمَلْتُ بَرَّةَ واحْتَمَلْتَ فَجَارِ

فَحَمَلْتُ بَرَّةَ واحْتَمَلْتَ فَجَارِ

We have divided our two courses between us:

For we have divided our two paths between us -

So I bore Virtue, and you bore Vice.

I have taken the path of righteousness, while you have taken the path of vileness.