أسَديُّ البأس عُذْريُّ الوَفا

خِنْدِفيُّ النَّجْر سُحْبيُّ النِّحَل

The bravest of fighters, most loyal in friendship

The kindest in jest, most bountiful in giving

طاهِرُ السَّعْي كريمُ المُلْتَقى

مُخْبتُ الأخلاق عُلويُّ المَحَلْ

Of purest endeavor, noblest in gathering

Of finest morals, highest in station

طوْدُ حِلْمٍ فإذا أحْفَظْتَهُ

فعصوفٌ ذاتُ رَوْعٍ وزَجَلْ

Steadfastness of forbearance - once grasped

Becomes pliant withes, bowed branches

لفْظُهُ منْ روْضةٍ ناضِرَةٍ

وضِرامٍ ذي شَرارٍ وشُعَلْ

His words from a lush, verdant meadow

And embers with sparks and flames aplenty

قسْوَةُ الجَلْمَدِ في إِقْدامِهِ

وهو في السَّلْم نسيمٌ وسَبَلْ

Hard as frozen rock when advancing

Yet gentle as breeze and path in peace

جائرُ الطَّعْنِ إذا جَدَّ الوَغى

وإذا يحْكُمُ في السَّلْمِ عَدَلْ

Vicious in attack when battle rages

Just when rule's established and discord fades

وطَروبٌ لأحاديثِ العُلى

طَربَ الوامِقِ بالصَّوت الرَّملْ

Delightful, his lofty discourse, which captivates

Like the shifting sands' song to the dunes

ولَبيبٌ ألْمَعِيٌّ كُلَّما

أعْضَلَ المُشْكِلُ واسْتبهم حلْ

Ingenious, illuminating, whenever

Perplexity looms and confusion reigns

مُدْرِكٌ ما دَقَّ مِنْ غامِضَةٍ

مثلما يُدْرَكُ ما بانَ وجَلْ

Grasping the obscure as clearly as the evident

Just as vagueness dissolves when meaning unveiled

فإذا الفِكْرُ نَبا عنْ مُعْضِلٍ

حَلَّهُ حَدُّ الصَّوابِ المُرْتَجل

His keen intellect solves every riddle

With ready wisdom and insight unfailing

شَرفُ الدِّينِ أبو جعفرِهِ

كُنْيَةٌ عن لُجِّ بحْرٍ وجَبَلْ

The glory of faith, Abu Ja'far

Nickname for ocean depths and mountain heights

للكُماةِ الصِّيدِ والكُومِ ضُحىً

ودُجىً إِن عَنَّ مَحْلٌ وَوهَلْ

Quarry for archers, the vale their hunting ground

Refuge if place or time are unsuitable

ضربةُ العُرْقوبِ هَبْراً والطُّلى

ومَعاليهِ تُنادي لا شَلَلْ

Blow of the mace violent, while his grandeur

Proclaims "Do not waver, stand firm and tall!"

وسِقابُ الحيِّ تشكو يُتْمَها

مثْلَ شكوى اليُتْم أولادُ البطلْ

And the swords of the living protest their neglect

Like war orphans bereft after the hero's fall

نِعْمَ مَنْ سَنَّ عليه لامَةً

ومشَى في الحيِّ زَوْلاً ورَفَلْ

Blessed is he who dons the garb of censure

And walks modestly, humbly, head bowed low

فحماهُ اللّهُ منْ صَرْف الرَّدى

ما بَدا إِشْراقُ شمسٍ وطَفَلْ

May God protect him from fickle fortune

Until sunrise glows and the daystar beams