مَعَرَّتكمْ إلى مصرينَ تُعْزى

فخلِّ معرةَ النعمانِ قِسْمي

Your acquaintance with the two Egypts* is praiseworthy,

So set aside the acquaintance of al-Nu‘man as my share.

لقد حظيَتْ معرَّتُنا بعلمٍ

وتلكَ معرَّةٌ مِنْ غيرِ علمِ

Our acquaintance has certainly been blessed with knowledge,

While that is an acquaintance without knowledge.