إذا ما شرفَ الإشرافُ قَوماً

فإنَّ بني رَحيمٍ شَرَّفُوهُ

If nobility graces a people,

Then the sons of Raheem were graced by it.

ومن يعرف به لهمُ قديماً

وإن رغِمت أُنوفٌ عَرّفُوهُ

And he who knows their ancient repute—

Though noses scorn—they made him recognize it.

كُفاةٌ للملوكِ على سَبيلٍ

ودينُ نصيحةٍ ما حَرَّفُوه

Competent stewards for kings in the way,

And a religion of honest counsel they kept it.

أبو بكىٍ لَهُ ولَهُم كفيلٌ

بكلِّ كِفايةٍ إذ صَرَّفُوهُ

Abu Bakr vouches for them and for him,

With every sufficient guarantee when they commissioned him.

وما الإشرافُ إلى عبدُ قنٍّ

لَهُ فَمتى تولّى استصرَفُوه

And nobility belongs not to a slave of Qann,

Whoever supports him, they soon dismissed him.