يا خَليلي إِني بَلَغتُ مَقاماً

لَم يَنَل شَأوه اللَبيب لَبيدُ

O my friend, I have attained a rank,

Unattainable by the perceptive minds of Labid.

إِذ تَحلّيت بامتداح أَميرٍ

هَوَ في المَجد وَالمَعالي فَريدُ

When I adorned myself with praising a prince,

Who is unique in glory and greatness.

وَدَعتني إِلى المَديح سَجايا

ضلّ عَنها عَلى هداه الرَشيد

My qualities led me to praise him,

While the guided strayed from it.

فيهِ ما شئت مِن بَديع صِفات

حارَ في حَصرِها البَليغ المُجيد

In him is whatever beautiful traits you wish,

The eloquent and excellent became confused in enumerating them.

فيهِ حلم وَرأفة وَعَفاف

بَل وَرأيٌ في كُل أَمر سَديد

In him is forbearance, kindness and chastity,

As well as wisdom in every proper matter.

وَذَكاء أَنسى ذَكاء إِياسٍ

وَوَفاء لَدى الأَنام حَميد

And intellect that makes me forget the intellect of Iyas,

And loyalty among people, praiseworthy.

إِن تقسه بحاتم فلديه

حاتم مادر ذَميم طَريد

If you compare him to Hatim, he has

A mother unlike the despicable and outcast Hatim.

هَل يُساويه في القَضايا أَرسطو

أَو يُوازيه في العُلوم اَرشميد

Can Aristotle equal him in judgments?

Or match him in knowledge, Arshamid?

أَم يجاريه في المَكارم معنٌ

وَهوَ حصن للمكرمات مشيد

Or can Ma’n rival him in generosity?

While he is a fortress built for generosity.

هُوَ بَحر في كُل علم خِضَمٌّ

مِنهُ يُروى مقرّب وَبَعيد

He is an ocean in every kind of knowledge, profound,

Both the confidant and the distant drink from it.

هُوَ للخائِفين خَير مَلاذٍ

وَعَلى المُعتدين لَيث شَديد

He is the best refuge for the fearful,

And a fierce lion against the aggressive.

فَاقترح ما تُريده فَلَديه

فَوقَ ما يَشتَهي يَنال المريد

Suggest what you want, for he has

More than what the follower wishes, to grant.

ما يُرى عادِلاً عن العَدل يَوماً

وَهوَ فيهِ موفّق وَسَعيد

He is never seen to be unjust instead of just,

While he is guided and prosperous in it.

وَهوَ بِالمنصب الرَفيع جَدير

وَجَميع الوَرى بِذاك شُهود

And he is worthy of the sublime position,

And all people are witnesses to that.

فَإِذا ما ادّعى علاك جهول

مان فيما يبدي وَفيما يعيد

So if an ignorant person makes claims about you,

He is mistaken in what he initiates and repeats.

لا تلمهم إِن يَحسدوك فَما من

أَهل فَضل إِلّا عَلَيهِ حَسود

Do not blame them if they envy you, for

No people of merit but have envious ones.

وَتَوكل عَلى الإله وَدَعهم

في عَماهم فَما الحَسود يَسود

And trust in God and leave them

Lost in their blindness, for the envious do not prevail.

وَتَهنأ فَلَيسَ غَيرك أَهلا

لِمَقام بِهِ العفاة وُفود

And congratulate yourself, for none but you

Are worthy of the position, to which notables flock.

وَتَيقظ لِلمكرمات وَبادر

لذة العَيش وَالأَعادي خمود

And be alert to favors, and take the initiative

For the pleasure of living while the enemies languish.

مَن بِعيدٍ يُسَرُّ يوماً فإنّا

كُلَّ يَوم لَنا بوجهك عيد

Whoever is distant hopes one day, while we

Have everyday with your face a celebration.

فَأَجزني قبول شعري فَإِني

بِالَّذي في يَديّ مِنهُ أَجود

So grant me acceptance of my poetry, for I

Give generously what I have in my hands.

وَابق وَافخر بسودد لَيسَ يَفنى

شاكر للإله شكراً يَزيد

And remain and take pride in eternity that does not fade,

Thanking God with thanks that increase.