كفاني ذكر الناس لي ومآثري

كفاني ذكر الناس لي ومآثري

وما لك فيهم يا ابن عمي ذاكر

وما لك فيهم يا ابن عمي ذاكر

People's mention of me and my noble deeds is enough for me.

The people's mention of me and my exploits suffice me,

Yet no one among them remembers you, my cousin.

And what business have you with them, O cousin, remembering me?

عدوي وأشياعي كثير كذاك من

عدوي وأشياعي كثير كذاك من

غدا وهو نفاع المساعي وضائر

غدا وهو نفاع المساعي وضائر

My enemies and my supporters are many; so it is with one

My enemies and partisans are many, likewise

Who has become greatly helpful in his endeavors, and harmful too.

Tomorrow comes with profitable efforts and harmful ones.

ومالك فيهم من عدوٍ فيتقي

ومالك فيهم من عدوٍ فيتقي

ومالك فيهم من صديق يكاثر

ومالك فيهم من صديق يكاثر

And you have no enemy among them to fear,

You have no enemy among them to beware of,

And no friend among them to boast of.

Nor a friend among them to multiply.

وقولي مسموع له ومصدق

وقولي مسموع له ومصدق

وقولك منبت مع الريح طائر

وقولك منبت مع الريح طائر

And my speech is listened to and believed,

My words are heard by him and believed,

While your speech is cut loose, flying with the wind.

While your words with the wind fly away.

وأني وإن أضيتني وعققتني

وأني وإن أضيتني وعققتني

لمحتمل ما جاءني في منك صابر

لمحتمل ما جاءني في منك صابر

And I, though you [wearied me] and wronged me as a kinsman,

And though you wrong and trouble me,

Surely bear patiently whatever has come to me from you.

I bear patiently what comes to me from you.