يَخِفُّ بِشراً إِذا اِنهَلَّت أَنامِلُهُ

وَالسُحبُ توصَفُ إِذ تَنهَلُّ بِالثِقَلِ

He hides his joy when his wishes are fulfilled,

And clouds are described as heavy when water pours from them.

أَغَرُّ يَكتُمُ مِن جودٍ عَوارِفَهُ

وَيَشهرُ البيضَ بَأساً شُهرَةَ المَثَلِ

The noblest man conceals his generosity,

While the coward boasts of valor he does not possess.

فَيَنشُرُ الحَمدُ ما أَخفاهُ مِن مِنَنٍ

وَيَكتُمُ الضَربُ بيضَ الهِندِ في القَلَلِ

So praise reveals the good deeds he hid,

As stones on a mountainside conceal the blowing wind.

يَأوي لِعُلياهُ مَحمِيٌّ وَمُضطَهَدٌ

كَالماءِ فيهِ ورودُ اللَيثِ وَالحَمَلِ

The persecuted and protected both seek its shelter,

Like water where the lion and the lamb come to drink.

وَيَشتَهي نَيلَهُ مُثرٍ وَذو عَدَمٍ

كَالراحِ تَصلُحُ لِلصاحي وَلِلثَمِلِ

The rich and the poor both yearn to attain it,

Like the breeze, suitable both for wakeful and asleep.

ذو عَزمَةٍ كَاِلتِماعِ البَرقِ واقِدَةٍ

تَجيءُ مِن نَصرِهِ بِالعارِضِ الهَطِلِ

With determination like lightning bright and flashing,

Victory comes to him in pouring rain.

لَولا السُعودُ الَّتي نيطَت بِهِمَّتِهِ

لَكُنتُ أَحسَبُها بُعداً إِلى زُحَلِ

If not for the good fortune bound to his resolve,

I would think it as far away as the planet Jupiter.