إِنَّ سَمْعَانَ شَيْخُنَا وَحَبِيبُ اللَّـ

ـهِ وَالخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمْ بِالسَّواءِ

Indeed, Simeon is our elder and beloved of God

And all people equally

هُوَ مِقْدَامُنَا الكَبِيرُ وَأَكْرِمْ

بِكَبِيرٍ خَلاَ مِنَ الكِبْرِيَاءِ

He is our great leader, most generous

With elders devoid of arrogance

أَبَداً بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنِي دَعَاوَى

نَتَقَاضَى بِهَا لِغَيْرِ الْقَضَاءِ

Never between us, disputes

Through which we seek judgment, not reconciliation

أَنَا أُثْنِي عَلَيْهِ وَهْوَ عَلَى الْعَهْ

دِ بِهِ غَيْرُ مُغْرَمٍبِالثَّناءِ

I praise him, while he is true to his word

Not indebted to praise

وَلَهُ الْحَقُّ إِنَّ فِي النَّفسِ لا فِي

قَوْلِ مُثْنِ حَقِيقَةَ الْعَلْيَاءِ

And he has the right - it is in one's soul, not in

The words of a praiser - the essence of nobility

وَلِيَ العُذْرُ هَلْ يَصِحُّ سُكُوتٌ

عَنْ فِعَالٍ تَدْعُو إِلى الإِطْرَاءِ

And I have the excuse - can silence be condoned

Regarding deeds that call for acclaim?