العدلُ فرضٌ وبذلُ الفضلِ نافلةٌ

يا ابنَ الكرامِ فعدلاً ثم إفضالا

Justice is an obligation, and bestowing gifts is voluntary

O son of the generous, be just and then generous

ملكتَ مالكَ جُوداً لا يُقامُ له

والعدلُ أفضلُ ما ملكتَهُ المالا

You have possessed wealth, being generous in a way that has no equal

And justice is the best of what you possess, O wealth

أعطيتَ قوماً وما استكفيتَهم عملاً

أسنى عطاءٍ وما جاءوك سُؤَّالا

You have given people gifts without asking anything of them in return

The most excellent giving, and they did not come to you asking

وحظُّ كتّابِك الأشقين أنْ بُخسوا

حقوقهم وهمُ الأوفَونَ أعمالا

The lot of your unfortunate writers is that they were deprived

Of their rights, even though they were the most diligent workers

كُتّابُ دولتِك الميمونِ طائرُها

أضحوا وهم أسوأ الكتّاب أحوالا

The writers of your blessed state are its birds

Who have become the most wretched of writers in their condition

عبيدُ خِدمتكَ المُعطوكَ جهدَهُمُ

في غايةِ الجهد إقتاراً وإقلالا

The servants in your service who have given you their full effort

Are in dire poverty and privation

فاعطفْ عليهم بفضلٍ منك ينعشُهُم

يا واحدَ الناس إحساناً وإجمالا

So show them favor with a gift from you that will revive them

O most benevolent and generous of people

صُنْ مَنْ يصونك عن ثُقل تُحمله

يَزِدْكَ صوناً ويحملْ عنك أثقالا

Protect those who protect you from the burden you carry

May he give you more protection and carry burdens from you

لا تحتقرهُمْ وإن أصبحتَ فوقهُم

فالسَّمكُ بالأُسّ مدعومٌ وإنْ طالا

Do not look down on them, even if you have risen above them

For the fish is supported by the hook, no matter how long

فارفُقْ بأسّ بناءٍ أنت ذِروتُهُ

فقد غدوتَ وما نالوهُ زِلزالا

So be gentle with the foundation you are the pinnacle of

For you have risen while they have not attained a shaking

إن البناءَ متى مادتْ قواعدُهُ

مالَ البناءُ ولن يبقى إذا مالا

When the foundations of a building extend

The building inclines and will not remain if it inclines