مدحُpraise بنيsons of الأَيامthe days ليfor me شُغلُan occupation
مدحُ بني الأَيام لي شُغلُ
لاno شكَّdoubt فيهِabout it يضربis cited المثلُthe proverbial example
لا شكَّ فيهِ يضرب المثلُ
Praising the sons of the days is my occupation.
Praising them is my daily occupation
Beyond doubt, it is held up as an example.
No doubt, they are proverbially exemplary
عَجزfailed اللِسانthe tongue بِنيلهin attaining it فَلذاand therefore
عَجز اللِسان بِنيله فَلذا
بِالقَلبwith the heart أمدحهمI praise them وَلاand no دخلُguile
بِالقَلب أمدحهم وَلا دخلُ
The tongue failed to attain it; therefore
My tongue is too weak to praise them enough
With my heart I praise them, without guile.
So with my heart I praise them, nothing less
شيمٌvirtues لَهُمof theirs حمدتwere praised فَماso not لئمواthey were base
شيمٌ لَهُم حمدت فَما لئموا
نعمٌbounties لهمof theirs عهدتwere known فماso not بَخلواthey were miserly
نعمٌ لهم عهدت فما بَخلوا
Their virtues were praised, so they were not base.
Noble virtues they have, I praise yet they don't boast
Their bounties were known, so they were not miserly.
Kindness they possess, I expect yet they don't withhold
هممٌaspirations لهمof theirs سعدتprospered فَماso not خَسرواthey suffered loss
هممٌ لهم سعدت فَما خَسروا
فِطنٌwits لَهُمof theirs رشدتwere rightly guided فَماso not غفلواthey were heedless
فِطنٌ لَهُم رشدت فَما غفلوا
Their aspirations prospered, so they suffered no loss.
Great aspirations they nurture, I wish well yet they don't lose
Their wits were guided aright, so they were not heedless.
Wisdom they own, I counsel yet they are never oblivious
Sol 6.1