إِذا اِستَقَلَّت بِكَ الرِكابُ

إِذا اِستَقَلَّت بِكَ الرِكابُ

فَحَيثُ لا دَرَّتِ السَحابُ

فَحَيثُ لا دَرَّتِ السَحابُ

When the mounts set off bearing you away,

When the riding camels carry you away,

may they carry you where the clouds never pour rain.

Then to where the clouds pour no rain!

زالَت سِراعاً وَزُلتَ يَجري

زالَت سِراعاً وَزُلتَ يَجري

بِبَينِكَ الظَبيُ وَالغُرابُ

بِبَينِكَ الظَبيُ وَالغُرابُ

The mounts speed swiftly away, and you go racing on,

May they speed away, and may you depart, as there run

with quick trot and raven attending your departure—

The gazelle and the crow, omens of your parting,

بِحَيثُ لا يُرتَجى إِيابٌ

بِحَيثُ لا يُرتَجى إِيابٌ

وَحَيثُ لا يَبلُغُ الكِتابُ

وَحَيثُ لا يَبلُغُ الكِتابُ

to a place from which no return is hoped,

To where no return is hoped for,

and which no letter can reach.

And where no letter can reach.

فَقَبلَ مَعروفِكَ اِمتِنانٌ

فَقَبلَ مَعروفِكَ اِمتِنانٌ

وَدونَ مَعروفِكَ العَذابُ

وَدونَ مَعروفِكَ العَذابُ

For before your favor comes the vaunting of it,

For boasts of favors precede your kindness,

and barring the way to your favor stands torment.

And torment bars the way to your kindness.

وَخَيرُ أَخلاقِكَ اللَواتي

وَخَيرُ أَخلاقِكَ اللَواتي

تَعافُ أَمثالَها الكِلابُ

تَعافُ أَمثالَها الكِلابُ

The best of your qualities are those

And the best of your traits are those

whose like even dogs disdain.

Whose like dogs abhor.