مدحُك يا بنَ الكرامِ فرضٌ

وفي سواك المديح ندبُ

To praise you, son of noble men, is an obligation;

to praise anyone but you is merely recommended.

قياسُ كفّيك في العطايا

بالبحر عند العقولِ كذبُ

To compare your hands, in their giving,

with the sea is, to discerning minds, a lie.

البحرُ يُخشى وأنتَ تُرجَى

والبحر مَلحٌ وأنتَ عَذْبُ

The sea is feared, while you are looked to with hope;

the sea is briny, while you are sweet.