ولما قرعتمْ بابَ عتبى فتحتُه

ولما قرعتمْ بابَ عتبى فتحتُه

وإلا فادخلاه وافبلا ما حييتمُا

وإلا فادخلاه وافبلا ما حييتمُا

And when you knocked at the door of my reproach, I opened it.

When you knocked at the door of my retreat, I opened it

Otherwise, enter it and [accept it] for as long as you both live.

Otherwise, enter it and excel in greeting

وأججتمَا نارَ الملامةِ فاصبرا

وأججتمَا نارَ الملامةِ فاصبرا

على حرِّها من حَرِّها قد وقيتُما

على حرِّها من حَرِّها قد وقيتُما

And you both kindled the fire of blame, so endure

You ignited the fire of blame, so be patient

Its heat—from its heat you have already been shielded.

With its heat, for I have protected you from its harm

ظننتكما عوناً على كلِّ حادثٍ

ظننتكما عوناً على كلِّ حادثٍ

فأخلقتُمَا كنى فما ذا خشيتُما

فأخلقتُمَا كنى فما ذا خشيتُما

I thought you both a help against every calamity.

I thought you were an aid against every misfortune

But you both [disappointed my expectation]; what, then, did you fear?

But you uttered hints, so what did you fear?

وأصبحتُما عونَ الحوادثِ إن أتتْ

وأصبحتُما عونَ الحوادثِ إن أتتْ

علىَّ أهذا منكُما لا شَقِيتُما

علىَّ أهذا منكُما لا شَقِيتُما

And you both became helpers of calamities, if they came

You became an aid for misfortunes if they came upon me

Against me—is this from you two? May you never suffer!

Is this from you? No, you did not make me wretched

إذا ما حباني اللهُ يوماً بنعمةٍ

إذا ما حباني اللهُ يوماً بنعمةٍ

وألبسني من عزِّهِ ما رضيتُما

وألبسني من عزِّهِ ما رضيتُما

Whenever God favored me one day with a blessing,

If God honors me one day with a blessing

And clothed me in His glory, you two were not pleased.

And clothes me in glory He approves

إذا عَثَرَتْ فلم بشخصيَ لاَ لَعاً

إذا عَثَرَتْ فلم بشخصيَ لاَ لَعاً

وما زالَ طول الدهر قولى سقيتُما

وما زالَ طول الدهر قولى سقيتُما

When it stumbled, [unclear wording] concerning me: 'No recovery!'

If I stumble, do not gloat over my downfall

Yet throughout all time my words have remained: 'May you both be watered!'

My way has been watered as long as days last

وإني مقيمٌ ما حييتُ على الوفَا

وإني مقيمٌ ما حييتُ على الوفَا

وإنكمَا في جَفْوتي ما بقيتُمَا

وإنكمَا في جَفْوتي ما بقيتُمَا

And I remain steadfast in loyalty for as long as I live,

I will remain loyal, alive, to fidelity

While you both keep shunning me as long as you live.

While you remain during my estrangement

وحَاشَا كُما الإفسادُ في بيعِ حِصَّتي

وحَاشَا كُما الإفسادُ في بيعِ حِصَّتي

لأَنّكما في رأب حالي دُعِيتُما

لأَنّكما في رأب حالي دُعِيتُما

And far be it from you both to spoil the sale of my share,

Far be it from you to corrupt in selling my share

For you were both called upon to mend my circumstances.

For you were called to mend my situation

قطعتمْ حبالَ الود منى فما الذي

قطعتمْ حبالَ الود منى فما الذي

جَرى من أخيكم فيكما لا مُنِيتُما

جَرى من أخيكم فيكما لا مُنِيتُما

You cut the cords of affection with me—what, then,

You cut the ties of affection from me, so what

Did your brother do to you both? May you never be afflicted!

Wrong did your brother commit that you forgot him?

وإنِّي على العهد القديمِ لحافظٌ

وإنِّي على العهد القديمِ لحافظٌ

وست بناسٍ ودّكم لو نسينُما

وست بناسٍ ودّكم لو نسينُما

And I am surely faithful to the old pledge,

I still keep the old covenant

And I [am not] one to forget your affection, even if you both [forget].

I have lived with people whose love for you, if forgotten

ألا ما صفيا قولا وفعلا وخلقةً

ألا ما صفيا قولا وفعلا وخلقةً

فأنتمْ إلى سُبُل التقى قد هُدِيتُما

فأنتمْ إلى سُبُل التقى قد هُدِيتُما

Ah, [you two close friends], in speech, deed, and nature,

Are you not of pure words, deeds and manners?

For you have indeed been guided to the paths of piety.

You are guided to the ways of piety

فإن كنتُما لا تقبلاَ النصحَ مِنْ فتى

فإن كنتُما لا تقبلاَ النصحَ مِنْ فتى

ألا فاذهَبا في القولِ من حيثُ حيثُما

ألا فاذهَبا في القولِ من حيثُ حيثُما

If, then, you two will not accept counsel from a young man,

If you do not accept advice from a young man

Come, then, go your way in speech, from wherever—wherever.

Then speak as you wish and go where you want

وها أنا ذا والدهرُ والقولُ والمَلا

وها أنا ذا والدهرُ والقولُ والمَلا

فقولاَ وسيرَا وافعَلا كيفَ شئتُما

فقولاَ وسيرَا وافعَلا كيفَ شئتُما

And here I am, and time, and speech, and the assembly.

So speak, travel and do as you desire

So speak, journey, and act however you both wish.