تعلّم أن خير الناس طراً

تعلّم أن خير الناس طراً

على جفر الهباءة ما يريمُ

على جفر الهباءة ما يريمُ

Know that the best of all mankind

Know that the best of all people

at Jafr al-Habāʾa shall never depart.

lies at Jafr al-Haba'a, never stirring.

ولولا ظلمُهُ مازلت أبكي

ولولا ظلمُهُ مازلت أبكي

عليه الدهر ما طلع النجومُ

عليه الدهر ما طلع النجومُ

Were it not for his wrongdoing, I would never cease to weep

And were it not for his wrongdoing, I would keep weeping

for him forever, as long as the stars arise.

for him forever, as long as the stars rise.

ولكن الفتى حملَ بن بدرٍ

ولكن الفتى حملَ بن بدرٍ

بغى والبغي مرتعه وخيمُ

بغى والبغي مرتعه وخيمُ

But the valiant Ḥaml ibn Badr

But the young man, Hamal ibn Badr,

transgressed—and transgression’s pasture is baneful.

transgressed, and transgression's pasture is unwholesome.

أظن الحلم دل عليَّ قومي

أظن الحلم دل عليَّ قومي

وقد يستجهل الرجل الحكيمُ

وقد يستجهل الرجل الحكيمُ

I think my forbearance has emboldened my people against me;

I think forbearance has emboldened my people against me,

even the forbearing man may be provoked into folly.

and even a wise man may be provoked to folly.

ألاقي من رجالٍ منكراتٍ

ألاقي من رجالٍ منكراتٍ

فأنكرُها وما أنا بالظلومِ

فأنكرُها وما أنا بالظلومِ

I encounter outrages among my own men,

I encounter reprehensible deeds from men,

so I condemn them—I am no inveterate oppressor.

so I condemn them, yet I am not at all unjust.