خَيرٌ مِنَ الظُلمِ لِلوالينَ لَو عَقَلوا

عَزلٌ بِعُنفٍ وَغَزلٌ بِالصَنانيرِ

Better than oppression for rulers, if they were wise,

Is removal with violence, and spinning with chains,

ذَلِلتُ حَتّى دَنانيرٌ إِلى كَتَدٍ

وَإِنَّما ذاكَ مِن حُبِّ الدَنانيرِ

I was humbled until pieces of gold came to a mat,

And that is only from love of pieces of gold,

فَلا يَغُرَّنكَ المَنسوجُ مِن ذَهَبٍ

فَقَد تُواريكَ أَطمارٌ بِلا نيرِ

So let not the gold-woven garment deceive you,

For rags without a string may cover you,

شُدَّت مَناطِقُ نَضرٍ في هَوى نَفَرٍ

مِنَ المُلوكِ ثَوَوا تَحتَ الزَنانيرِ

The belts of Nadhr were tightened in love of a group,

Of kings who took shelter under armor,

أَلهى البَريَّةَ إِلقاءٌ إِلى هُضُمٍ

كَأَنَّما هُوَ حَصبٌ في التَنانيرِ

Recreation distracted the open country, throwing it to roughness,

As if it were pebbles in sieves,

عاثَتِ ذِئابٌ فَلَم يَزجُر مَعَرَّتها

مُستَضعَفونَ لِفُقدانِ السَنانيرِ

Wolves raided, but their raiding was not deterred,

By the weakened who lacked armor,