لَبِسَ القِبَاءَ فَلَمْ يَعِبْهُ وَأَيْقَنُوا

لَبِسَ القِبَاءَ فَلَمْ يَعِبْهُ وَأَيْقَنُوا

أَنَّ النُّهَى وَالحَزْمَ حَشْوُ قِبَائِهِ

أَنَّ النُّهَى وَالحَزْمَ حَشْوُ قِبَائِهِ

He donned the coat, and it did not detract from him; they knew for certain

He wore the cloak, yet it did not burden him,

that reason and resolve filled his coat.

And they knew that composure and resolve lined his cloak.

وَغَدَا فَنَاطَ إِلَى شَبَا أَقْلاَمِهِ

وَغَدَا فَنَاطَ إِلَى شَبَا أَقْلاَمِهِ

سَيْفَاً يَصُولُ بِهِ عَلَى أَعْدَائِهِ

سَيْفَاً يَصُولُ بِهِ عَلَى أَعْدَائِهِ

And he went forth and joined to the sharp tips of his pens

He set out the next day, tying to his waist

a sword with which he assails his enemies,

A sword with which he charges upon his enemies.

مُتَّقَدِّمَاً بِمَنَاقِبِ اَوْفَتْ بِهِ

مُتَّقَدِّمَاً بِمَنَاقِبِ اَوْفَتْ بِهِ

فَضْلاً عَلَى الأَشْرَافِ مِنْ أَكْفَائِهِ

فَضْلاً عَلَى الأَشْرَافِ مِنْ أَكْفَائِهِ

foremost through virtues that raised him

Advancing with virtues that distinguished him,

in merit above the nobles among his peers.

Merits that raised him above his noble peers.

فَكَأَنَّ رَوْنَقَ وَجْهِهِ مِنْ سَيْفِهِ

فَكَأَنَّ رَوْنَقَ وَجْهِهِ مِنْ سَيْفِهِ

وَكَأَنَّ حِدَّةَ سَيْفِهِ مِنْ رَائِهِ

وَكَأَنَّ حِدَّةَ سَيْفِهِ مِنْ رَائِهِ

So it is as though his face's luster comes from his sword,

As though the brilliance of his face came from his sword,

and as though his sword's keenness comes from his judgment.

And the sharpness of his sword came from his vision.