تَضَمَّنتُ بِالأَحسابِ ثُمَّ كَفَيتُها

وَهَل تُوكَلُ الأَحسابُ إِلّا اِلى مِثلي

I was versed in calculations, yet I abandoned them,

For who should be entrusted with calculations but the like of me?

وإِن يَجنِ قَومي الحَربَ يَوماً كَفَيتُها

وَما أَنا بِالجاني وَلا هِيَ مِن أَجلي

And if my people start a war one day, I will end it,

For I am no instigator, nor is it because of me.

أُمِرُّ وَأُحلي وَالحَياءُ خَليقَتي

وَلا خَيرَ في مَن لا يُمِرُّ وَلا يُحلي

I give generously and act righteously, modesty is my nature,

No good in one who does not give generously or act righteously.

أَجودُ بِمالي دونَ عِرضي وَمَن يُرِد

رَزِيَّةَ عِرضي يَعتَرِضُ دونَهُ بُخلي

I spend my money without ruining my honor, and whoever wants,

To insult my honor will be hindered by my stinginess.

وَما أَنا بِالأَعشى لِيَظلِمَ قَومَهُ

أَخافُ مَليكي أَو سَيَحبِسُني

I am no blind man to wrong my people,

Fearing my king or that he will imprison me.

عَجِبتُ لِأَقوامٍ تَمَنّوا لِيَ الرَدى

بِلا تِرَةٍ كانَت وَدَلّاهُمُ خَتلي

I am surprised by people who wished me gone astray,

With no justification, their own stupidity led them.

فَاِن تُنسِني الآجالُ نَفسي حِمامَها

فَاِنَّ وَرائي أَن يُفَنِّدَني أَهلي

If time makes me forget my soul's concerns,

Then my family behind me will remind me.

وَأَصبَحَ هادِيَّ العَصا حينَ أَغتَدي

وَيُسلِمُني مِن بَعدِ حِكمَتِهِ عَقلي

And I will rise in the morning a guide with a staff,

And after his wisdom, my mind will submit to me.

وَيَأَمَنُ أَعدائي شَذاتي وَلَم أَكُن

لِأَرأَمَ ذُلاً ما هَدَت قَدَمى نَعلي

My enemies will feel safe from my outbursts, and I have never,

Been one to show humility when my slipper guided my steps.

وَإِنّي أَخوهُم عِندَ كُلِّ مُلِمَّةٍ

إِذا مِتُّ لَم يَلقوا أَخاً لَهُمُ عِدلي

And I am their brother in every disaster,

If I die, they will not find one equitable to replace me.

تَجودُ لَهُم كَفّي بِما مَلَكَت يَدَي

وَقُمتُ بِلا فُحشٍ عَلَيهِمُ وَلا بُخلِ

I give generously with what my hands possessed,

Without committing indecency or stinginess towards them.

وَأَورَهَ مِنهُم قَد تَعَدَّيتُ جَهلَهُ

وَلَو شِئتُ جَرَّ الحَبلَ عَن وَجهِهِ حَملي

But I do warn those who transgressed in their ignorance,

And if I wanted, I would pull the rope from his face forcefully.