خَطبٌ لِسانُ الحالِ فيهِ أَبكَمُ

خَطبٌ لِسانُ الحالِ فيهِ أَبكَمُ

وَهَوىً طَريقُ الحَقِّ فيهِ مُظلِمُ

وَهَوىً طَريقُ الحَقِّ فيهِ مُظلِمُ

A calamity in which the tongue of circumstance is mute,

My case is one where tongues are tied,

And caprice in which the path of truth is dark;

And love's road obscured in darkness lies.

وَقَضِيَّةٌ صَمَتَ القُضاةُ تَرَفُّعاً

وَقَضِيَّةٌ صَمَتَ القُضاةُ تَرَفُّعاً

عَن فَصلِها وَالخَصمُ فيها يَحكُمُ

عَن فَصلِها وَالخَصمُ فيها يَحكُمُ

And a case whose judges fell silent, deeming themselves above

A cause where judges haughtily withdrew

Deciding it, while the adversary himself gives judgment.

From giving judgment, while disputants decide.

أَمسى الخَبيرُ بِها يُسائِلُ مَن لَها

أَمسى الخَبيرُ بِها يُسائِلُ مَن لَها

فَأَجَبتُهُ وَحُشاشَتي تَتَضَرَّمُ

فَأَجَبتُهُ وَحُشاشَتي تَتَضَرَّمُ

One versed in it now asks, 'Who will take it up?'

The expert questioned me about it saying,

So I answered him, with the remnant of my life aflame:

And my bashfulness replies in troubled wise:

إِن كُنتَ ما تَدري فَتِلكَ مُصيبَةٌ

إِن كُنتَ ما تَدري فَتِلكَ مُصيبَةٌ

أَو كُنتَ تَدري فَالمُصيبَةُ أَعظَمُ

أَو كُنتَ تَدري فَالمُصيبَةُ أَعظَمُ

If you do not know, that is a calamity;

"If you know not, 'tis a calamity;

Or if you do know, the calamity is greater.

If you do know, the calamity still greater lies."

أَشكو فَيَعرِضُ عَن مَقالي ضاحِكاً

أَشكو فَيَعرِضُ عَن مَقالي ضاحِكاً

وَالحُرُّ يوجِعُهُ الكَلامُ وَيُؤلِمُ

وَالحُرُّ يوجِعُهُ الكَلامُ وَيُؤلِمُ

I complain, and he turns from my words, laughing,

I complain, and laughing he turns away,

Yet a noble man is hurt and pained by words.

While the proud man is hurt by words however slight.

ما ذاكَ مِن فَرطِ العَياءِ وَإِنَّما

ما ذاكَ مِن فَرطِ العَياءِ وَإِنَّما

لِهَوى القُلوبِ سَريرَةٌ لا تُعلَمُ

لِهَوى القُلوبِ سَريرَةٌ لا تُعلَمُ

That is not from excessive incapacity; rather,

Not from coy pride doth he refrain, but love

The hearts' desires have a secret that is unknown.

Has in hearts a secret that's hid from sight.

فَلَئِن عَلا رَأسي المَشيبُ فَلَم يَكُن

فَلَئِن عَلا رَأسي المَشيبُ فَلَم يَكُن

كِبَراً وَلَكِنَّ الحَوادِثَ تُهرِمُ

كِبَراً وَلَكِنَّ الحَوادِثَ تُهرِمُ

So if gray hair has risen upon my head, it was not

If though my head is touched with grey, that is

Old age; rather, calamities make men old.

No eld, but stroke of fate does youth chastise.

فَاللَهُ يَحرُسُ مارِدينَ فَإِنَّها

فَاللَهُ يَحرُسُ مارِدينَ فَإِنَّها

بَلَدٌ يَلَذُّ بِها الغَريبُ وَيَنعَمُ

بَلَدٌ يَلَذُّ بِها الغَريبُ وَيَنعَمُ

May God protect Mardin, for it is

God guard Mardin! It is a land whose sweets

A town where the stranger takes delight and lives in ease.

Revive the stranger and wherein he joys.

أَرضٌ بِها يَسطو عَلى اللَيثِ الطَلا

أَرضٌ بِها يَسطو عَلى اللَيثِ الطَلا

وَيَعوثُ في غابِ الهِزَبرِ الأَرقَمُ

وَيَعوثُ في غابِ الهِزَبرِ الأَرقَمُ

A land where the fawn attacks the lion,

A land whose lion in his jungle stalks,

And the speckled serpent runs wild in the mighty lion's thicket.

While the old wolf amid its hazels cries.

حالَت بِها الأَشياءُ عَن عاداتِها

حالَت بِها الأَشياءُ عَن عاداتِها

فَالحَيلُ تَنهَقُ وَالحَميرُ تُحَمحِمُ

فَالحَيلُ تَنهَقُ وَالحَميرُ تُحَمحِمُ

There, things have departed from their usual ways:

There all is changed from customary ways,

Horses bray, while donkeys neigh.

The schemer fails and asses criticize.

يَجني بِها الجاني فَإِن ظَفِروا بِهِ

يَجني بِها الجاني فَإِن ظَفِروا بِهِ

يَوماً يُحَلَّفُ بِالطَلاقِ وَيُرحَمُ

يَوماً يُحَلَّفُ بِالطَلاقِ وَيُرحَمُ

The criminal commits his crime there; if they catch him

The sinner profits there; then if they catch him

One day, he is made to swear on pain of divorce and shown mercy.

He swears divorce and goes unpenalized.

شَرطُ الوُلاةِ بِها بِأَن يَمضي الَّذي

شَرطُ الوُلاةِ بِها بِأَن يَمضي الَّذي

يَمضي وَيَسلَمُ عِندَهُم ما يَسلَمُ

يَمضي وَيَسلَمُ عِندَهُم ما يَسلَمُ

The governors' rule there is that whatever passes

The governors' condition is to let pass all

Passes, and whatever stays safe with them stays safe.

That passes, and hold safe whate'er subsides.

لا كَالشَآمِ فَإِنَّ شَرطَ وُلاتِها

لا كَالشَآمِ فَإِنَّ شَرطَ وُلاتِها

اللِصُّ يَجني وَالمُقَدَّمُ يَغرَمُ

اللِصُّ يَجني وَالمُقَدَّمُ يَغرَمُ

Not so in Syria, for its governors' rule is:

Not like Damascus where the thief secures

The thief commits the crime, and the chief pays the fine.

His booty and the plaintive is the loser.

وَمُعَنِّفٍ في الظَنِّ قُلتُ لَهُ اِتَّئِد

وَمُعَنِّفٍ في الظَنِّ قُلتُ لَهُ اِتَّئِد

فَأَقصِر فَبَعضُ الغَيبِ غَيبٌ يُعلَمُ

فَأَقصِر فَبَعضُ الغَيبِ غَيبٌ يُعلَمُ

To one who rebuked my suspicions, I said, 'Take your time;

I chided one who entertained vile thoughts,

Desist, for some hidden things can be known.

And said "Restrain yourself, for part is known."

مَن أَينَ يَدري اللِصُّ أَنَّ دَراهِمي

مَن أَينَ يَدري اللِصُّ أَنَّ دَراهِمي

لَم يَبقَ مِنها في الخِزانَةِ دِرهَمُ

لَم يَبقَ مِنها في الخِزانَةِ دِرهَمُ

How would the thief know that of my dirhams

How should the thief have knowledge that my purse

Not one dirham remained in the treasury?'

Was lacking even one remaining coin?

صَبَروا وَمالي في البُيوتِ مُقَسَّمٌ

صَبَروا وَمالي في البُيوتِ مُقَسَّمٌ

حَتّى إِذا اِكتَمَلَ الجَميعُ تَسَلَّموا

حَتّى إِذا اِكتَمَلَ الجَميعُ تَسَلَّموا

They waited while my wealth lay divided among the houses,

They showed patience till collected was the whole,

Until, when the whole was complete, they took possession.

Then plundered all when came the time of plunder.

يا أَيُّها المَلِكُ الَّذي في عَصرِهِ

يا أَيُّها المَلِكُ الَّذي في عَصرِهِ

كُلُّ المُلوكِ لِعَدلِهِ تَتَعَلَّمُ

كُلُّ المُلوكِ لِعَدلِهِ تَتَعَلَّمُ

O king, in whose reign

O king, from whom all other kings can learn

All kings learn from his justice,

Of equity, in this thy happy reign,

لا تُطمِعَنَّ ذَوي الفَسادِ بِتَركِهِم

لا تُطمِعَنَّ ذَوي الفَسادِ بِتَركِهِم

فَالنَذلُ تَطغى نَفسُهُ إِذ تُكرَمُ

فَالنَذلُ تَطغى نَفسُهُ إِذ تُكرَمُ

Do not embolden the corrupt by leaving them alone,

Give not the vicious leave, for souls will dare

For the base man's soul grows insolent when honored.

When honored, and the vilest hold the rein.

إِن كانَ مَن يَجني مِراراً لَم يَخَف

إِن كانَ مَن يَجني مِراراً لَم يَخَف

قَطعاً فَلا أَدري عَلى ما يَندَمُ

قَطعاً فَلا أَدري عَلى ما يَندَمُ

If one who repeatedly commits crimes does not fear

If one still profits and feels no remorse,

Amputation, I know not what he would repent of.

I know not where repentance can be found.

أَيَجوزُ أَن تَخفى عَلَيكَ قَضِيَّتي

أَيَجوزُ أَن تَخفى عَلَيكَ قَضِيَّتي

وَالناسُ في مُضَرٍ بِها تَتَكَلَّمُ

وَالناسُ في مُضَرٍ بِها تَتَكَلَّمُ

Can my case be hidden from you

Is it unknown to thee this case of mine

While the people in Mudar speak of it?

Whereat the people in Mudar complain?

فَإِذا شَكَوتُ يُقالُ لَم يَذهَب لَهُ

فَإِذا شَكَوتُ يُقالُ لَم يَذهَب لَهُ

مالٌ وَلَكِن ظالِمٌ يَتَظَلَّمُ

مالٌ وَلَكِن ظالِمٌ يَتَظَلَّمُ

Yet when I complain, it is said, 'He has lost no

If I complain they say "No money's lost,

Wealth; he is merely a wrongdoer claiming to be wronged.'

But here's a man who does injustice feign."

أَيَجوزُ أَن يُمسي السَقيمُ مُبَرَّأً

أَيَجوزُ أَن يُمسي السَقيمُ مُبَرَّأً

مِنها وَصِبيانُ المَكاتِبِ تُتهَمُ

مِنها وَصِبيانُ المَكاتِبِ تُتهَمُ

Can the sick man end up acquitted

Is it conceivable that the invalid

Of it, while schoolchildren stand accused?

Should be acquitted while the youths are chained?

وَأُجيلُ عَيني في الحُبوسِ فَلا أَرى

وَأُجيلُ عَيني في الحُبوسِ فَلا أَرى

إِلا اِبنَ جاري أَو غُلاماً يَخدُمُ

إِلا اِبنَ جاري أَو غُلاماً يَخدُمُ

I turn my eye through the prisons, but see none

In the prisons the sad victim I behold

Except my neighbor's son, or a serving boy.

Is the poor servant lad or household page.

أَيُزارُ في بابِ البُوَيرَةِ راهِبٌ

أَيُزارُ في بابِ البُوَيرَةِ راهِبٌ

لَيلاً فَيَدري في الصَباحِ وَيَعلَمُ

لَيلاً فَيَدري في الصَباحِ وَيَعلَمُ

Can a monk be visited at the gate of al-Buwayra

A monk in the Buwairah door by night

At night, and by morning he knows and learns of it,

Is seen, and when morning dawns, is known again.

وَتَزُفُّ داري بِالشُموعِ جَماعَةٌ

وَتَزُفُّ داري بِالشُموعِ جَماعَةٌ

غُلبٌ فَيُستَرُ عَن عُلاكَ وَيُكتَمُ

غُلبٌ فَيُستَرُ عَن عُلاكَ وَيُكتَمُ

Yet a band comes in procession to my house with candles,

My house by troops of candles is enthronged

Thick-necked men—and this is hidden from Your Highness and concealed?

At evening as the prostitutes arrange their train.

قَومٌ لَهُم ظَهرٌ شَديدٌ مانِعٌ

قَومٌ لَهُم ظَهرٌ شَديدٌ مانِعٌ

كُلٌّ بِهِ يَدري عَلى ما يُقدِمُ

كُلٌّ بِهِ يَدري عَلى ما يُقدِمُ

Men with strong, protective backing,

A people firm of purpose bar the way,

Each, through it, knows what he dares undertake.

Each of his foray conscious well and fain.

لا يَحفِلونَ وَقَد أَحاطَ عَديدُهُم

لا يَحفِلونَ وَقَد أَحاطَ عَديدُهُم

بِالدارِ أَيقاظٌ بِها أَو نَوَّمُ

بِالدارِ أَيقاظٌ بِها أَو نَوَّمُ

They care not, when their multitude surrounds

Careless they are though round the house their band

The house, whether those inside are awake or asleep.

Is watching either to awake or sleep.

إِن يَظفَروا فَتَكوا وَإِن يُظفَر بِهِم

إِن يَظفَروا فَتَكوا وَإِن يُظفَر بِهِم

كُلٌّ عَلَيهِ يُنابُ أَو يُستَخدَمُ

كُلٌّ عَلَيهِ يُنابُ أَو يُستَخدَمُ

If they prevail, they strike ruthlessly; if they are caught,

They kill if they prevail, if they have ill success

Each has someone deputed on his behalf, or is taken into service.

Each has support behind him or makes his escape.

فَأَقِم حُدودَ اللَهِ فيهِم إِنَّهُم

فَأَقِم حُدودَ اللَهِ فيهِم إِنَّهُم

وَثَقوا بِأَنَّكَ راحِمٌ لا تَنقِمُ

وَثَقوا بِأَنَّكَ راحِمٌ لا تَنقِمُ

So enforce God's prescribed penalties against them; they

So for them firmly execute God's law,

Have trusted that you are merciful and take no vengeance.

For trusting to thy mildness they blaspheme.

إِن كُنتَ تَخشى أَن تُعَدَّ بِظالِمٍ

إِن كُنتَ تَخشى أَن تُعَدَّ بِظالِمٍ

لَهُم فَإِنَّكَ لِلرَعِيَّةِ أَظلَمُ

لَهُم فَإِنَّكَ لِلرَعِيَّةِ أَظلَمُ

If you fear being counted unjust

If thou fear that men reckon thee unjust

To them, you are more unjust to your subjects.

To them, to thy poor subjects thou'rt more unfair.

فَالحِلمُ في بَعضِ المَواطِنِ ذِلَّةٌ

فَالحِلمُ في بَعضِ المَواطِنِ ذِلَّةٌ

وَالبَغيُ جُرحٌ وَالسِياسَةُ مَرهَمُ

وَالبَغيُ جُرحٌ وَالسِياسَةُ مَرهَمُ

For forbearance in some circumstances is humiliation,

Clemency in some cases means disgrace,

And oppression is a wound, while governance is a salve.

Rebellion is a wound by severity made tame.

بِالبَطشِ تَمَّ المُلكُ لِاِبنِ مَراجِلٍ

بِالبَطشِ تَمَّ المُلكُ لِاِبنِ مَراجِلٍ

وَتَأَخَّرَ اِبنُ زُبَيدَةَ المُتَقَدِّمُ

وَتَأَخَّرَ اِبنُ زُبَيدَةَ المُتَقَدِّمُ

Through force, kingship was secured for the son of Marajil,

By his severity the rule to Marwan's son

While the son of Zubayda, once foremost, fell behind.

Came, though the earlier Khalifs more indulgent were.

وَعَنَت لِمُعتَصِمِ الرِقابُ بِبَأسِهِ

وَعَنَت لِمُعتَصِمِ الرِقابُ بِبَأسِهِ

وَدَهى العِبادَ بِلينِهِ المُستَعصِمُ

وَدَهى العِبادَ بِلينِهِ المُستَعصِمُ

Necks bowed to Mu'tasim through his might,

By might Mo'tasim brought the nations low,

And al-Musta'sim, through his softness, brought disaster upon the people.

While with his mildness Mutawakkel curbed them.

ما رَتَّبَ اللَهُ الحُدودَ وَقَصدُهُ

ما رَتَّبَ اللَهُ الحُدودَ وَقَصدُهُ

في الناسِ أَن يَرعى المُسيءَ وَيَرحَمُ

في الناسِ أَن يَرعى المُسيءَ وَيَرحَمُ

God did not ordain the prescribed penalties intending

Not for neglect did God ordain the laws,

Among mankind to tend the wrongdoer and show him mercy.

Intending pardon to the evil-doer.

لَو شاءَ قال دَعوا القِصاصَ وَلَم يَقُل

لَو شاءَ قال دَعوا القِصاصَ وَلَم يَقُل

بَل في القِصاصِ لَكُم حَياةٌ تَنعَمُ

بَل في القِصاصِ لَكُم حَياةٌ تَنعَمُ

Had He wished, He would have said, 'Abandon retribution'; He did not,

If He had wished He had said "let claims abate,"

But rather, 'In retribution you have a life of ease.'

Not "retaliation gives you life and order."

إِن كانَ تَعطيلُ الحُدودِ لِرَحمَةٍ

إِن كانَ تَعطيلُ الحُدودِ لِرَحمَةٍ

فَاللَهُ أَرأَفُ بِالعِبادِ وَأَرحَمُ

فَاللَهُ أَرأَفُ بِالعِبادِ وَأَرحَمُ

If suspending the prescribed penalties is an act of mercy,

If the excuse for setting law aside

God is more compassionate toward His servants and more merciful.

Be pity, God more pities and is kinder.

فَاِجزِ المُسيءَ كَما جَزاهُ بِفِعلِهِ

فَاِجزِ المُسيءَ كَما جَزاهُ بِفِعلِهِ

وَاِحكُم بِما قَد كانَ رَبُّكَ يَحكُمُ

وَاِحكُم بِما قَد كانَ رَبُّكَ يَحكُمُ

So requite the wrongdoer as He requited him for his deed,

So punish the transgressor with the proper punishment

And judge as your Lord has judged.

And judge as was your Lord's decreed intent.

عَقَرَت ثَمودُ لَهُ قَديماً ناقَةً

عَقَرَت ثَمودُ لَهُ قَديماً ناقَةً

وَهُوَ الغَنِيُّ عَنِ الوَرى وَالمُنعِمُ

وَهُوَ الغَنِيُّ عَنِ الوَرى وَالمُنعِمُ

Long ago, Thamud hamstrung His she-camel,

Thamud of old, though independent quite

Though He has no need of mankind and is the Bestower.

Of mortals' aid, a she-camel had, eminent,

فَأَذاقَهَم سَوطَ العَذابِ وَإِنَّهُم

فَأَذاقَهَم سَوطَ العَذابِ وَإِنَّهُم

بِالرَجزِ يَخسِفُ أَرضَهُم وَيُدَمدِمُ

بِالرَجزِ يَخسِفُ أَرضَهُم وَيُدَمدِمُ

So He made them taste the scourge of torment; as for them,

Yet did they hamstring her, and for all that they

With affliction He sinks their land and crushes them.

By heaven's wrath and earthquake dire were punished.

وَكَذاكَ خَيرُ المُرسَلينَ مُحَمَّدٌ

وَكَذاكَ خَيرُ المُرسَلينَ مُحَمَّدٌ

وَهُوَ الَّذي في حُكمِهِ لا يَظلِمُ

وَهُوَ الَّذي في حُكمِهِ لا يَظلِمُ

So too Muhammad, the best of the messengers,

So too that best of prophets, honored Mohammed,

Who never wrongs anyone in his judgment:

Although to none oppression could be incident,

لَمّا أَتَوهُ بِعُصبَةٍ سَرَقوا لَهُ

لَمّا أَتَوهُ بِعُصبَةٍ سَرَقوا لَهُ

إِبِلاً مِنَ الصَدَقاتِ وَهوَ مُصَمِّمُ

إِبِلاً مِنَ الصَدَقاتِ وَهوَ مُصَمِّمُ

When they brought him a band who had stolen from him

When they brought up a band who had purloined

Camels from the alms, he was resolute.

Some camels out of alms - and he was vehement -

لَم يَعفُ بَل قَطَعَ الأَكُفَّ وَأَرجُلاً

لَم يَعفُ بَل قَطَعَ الأَكُفَّ وَأَرجُلاً

مِن بَعدِ ما سَمَلَ النَواظِرَ مِنهُمُ

مِن بَعدِ ما سَمَلَ النَواظِرَ مِنهُمُ

He did not pardon them, but cut off hands and feet,

He cut off hands and feet, not pardoning them

After he had gouged out their eyes.

Till after their escaping eyes had punishment.

وَرَماهُمُ مِن بَعدِ ذاكَ بِحَرَّةٍ

وَرَماهُمُ مِن بَعدِ ذاكَ بِحَرَّةٍ

نارُ الهَواجِرِ فَوقَها تَتَضَرَّمُ

نارُ الهَواجِرِ فَوقَها تَتَضَرَّمُ

And after that he cast them onto a lava field,

Then he cast them on the sunburnt ground to burn

Where the fire of the noonday heat blazed.

Where winds blow o'er it causing fiery torment.

وَرَجا أُناسٌ أَن يَرِقَّ عَليهِمُ

وَرَجا أُناسٌ أَن يَرِقَّ عَليهِمُ

فَأَبى وَقالَ كَذا يُجازى المُجرِمُ

فَأَبى وَقالَ كَذا يُجازى المُجرِمُ

Some people hoped he would show them pity,

Some people hoped he might show clemency,

But he refused, saying, 'Thus is the criminal repaid.'

But no! he said "such is the due of every villain."

وَكَذا فَتى الخَطّابِ قادَ بِلَطمَةٍ

وَكَذا فَتى الخَطّابِ قادَ بِلَطمَةٍ

مَلِكاً لِغَسّانٍ أَبوهُ الأَيهَمُ

مَلِكاً لِغَسّانٍ أَبوهُ الأَيهَمُ

So too the son of al-Khattab exacted retaliation for a slap from

And so Khattab's brave son one day was driving

A king of Ghassan, whose father was al-Ayham.

An Arab King, Ghassan's lord, behind him eminent.

فَشَكا وَقالَ لَهُ أَتَلطِمُ سوقَةٌ

فَشَكا وَقالَ لَهُ أَتَلطِمُ سوقَةٌ

مَلِكاً فَقالَ أَجَل وَأَنفُكَ مُرغَمُ

مَلِكاً فَقالَ أَجَل وَأَنفُكَ مُرغَمُ

He complained and said to him, 'May common folk slap

The king complained saying "Is it right that I

A king?' He said, 'Yes, with your nose rubbed in dust.'

Be driven by a lash?" He said "Yes, though indignant.

هَذي حُدودُ اللَهِ مَن يَخلُل بِها

هَذي حُدودُ اللَهِ مَن يَخلُل بِها

فَجَزاؤُهُ يَومَ المَعادِ جَهَنَّمُ

فَجَزاؤُهُ يَومَ المَعادِ جَهَنَّمُ

These are God's prescribed penalties; whoever neglects them,

These are God's bounds; whoever them transgresses,

His recompense on the Day of Return is Hell.

On resurrection day hell fire shall be his punishment."

وَاِنظُر لِقَولِ اِبنِ الحُسَينِ وَقَد رَأى

وَاِنظُر لِقَولِ اِبنِ الحُسَينِ وَقَد رَأى

حالاً يَشُقُّ عَلى الأَبيِّ وَيَعظُمُ

حالاً يَشُقُّ عَلى الأَبيِّ وَيَعظُمُ

Consider the words of Ibn al-Husayn, who had seen

Regard Husain's son's words, when he beheld

A plight grievous and overwhelming to a proud man:

A state that pierced anew a father's soul.

لا يَسلَمُ الشَرَفُ الرَفيعُ مِنَ الأَذى

لا يَسلَمُ الشَرَفُ الرَفيعُ مِنَ الأَذى

حَتّى يُراقَ عَلى جَوانِبِهِ الدَمُ

حَتّى يُراقَ عَلى جَوانِبِهِ الدَمُ

Lofty honor is not kept safe from harm

"Nobility from suffering is not free

Until blood is spilled along its sides.

Until around its sides our blood shall roll."

هَذا فَعالُ اللَهِ ثُمَّ نَبِيِّهِ

هَذا فَعالُ اللَهِ ثُمَّ نَبِيِّهِ

وَالصَحبُ وَالشُعَراءُ فَيما نَظَّموا

وَالصَحبُ وَالشُعَراءُ فَيما نَظَّموا

This is the conduct of God, then of His Prophet,

Such was God's, then his Prophet's ordinance,

Of the Companions, and of the poets in what they composed.

As also from the noble poets have we learnt.

فَافتُك بِهِم فَتكَ المُلوكِ وَلا تَلِن

فَافتُك بِهِم فَتكَ المُلوكِ وَلا تَلِن

فَيَصِحَّ ما قالَ السَوادُ الأَعظَمُ

فَيَصِحَّ ما قالَ السَوادُ الأَعظَمُ

So strike them ruthlessly as kings do, and do not relent,

So deal with them the fiat of the kings,

Lest what the great multitude has said prove true.

Nor weakly pardon, lest the crowd blaspheme.

وَاِعذِر مُحِباً لَم يُسِئ بِقَريضِهِ

وَاِعذِر مُحِباً لَم يُسِئ بِقَريضِهِ

أَدَباً وَلَكِنَّ الضَرورَةَ تَحكُمُ

أَدَباً وَلَكِنَّ الضَرورَةَ تَحكُمُ

And pardon a devoted man who, through his verse, has committed no

Forgive the fault of one whose verse shows love,

Breach of manners; necessity, however, rules.

Though rash, for need constrains beyond all reason.

وَاللَهِ ما أَسَفي عَلى مالٍ مَضى

وَاللَهِ ما أَسَفي عَلى مالٍ مَضى

إِلّا عَلى اِستِلزامِ بُعدي عَنكُمُ

إِلّا عَلى اِستِلزامِ بُعدي عَنكُمُ

By God, my grief is not for the wealth that is gone,

By God, I grieve not for the wealth that's lost,

But only for the separation from you it entails.

Save that my absence is prolonged from you.

فَالمالُ مُكتَسَبٌ عَلى طولِ المَدى

فَالمالُ مُكتَسَبٌ عَلى طولِ المَدى

وَالذِكرُ يُنجِدُ في البِلادِ وَيُتهِمُ

وَالذِكرُ يُنجِدُ في البِلادِ وَيُتهِمُ

For wealth can be acquired over time,

Wealth comes and goes throughout man's life, but fame

And renown travels the lands, to Najd and Tihama.

Endures and unto death its succor brings.

هَذي العِبارَةُ لِلمُحَقِّقِ عِبرَةٌ

هَذي العِبارَةُ لِلمُحَقِّقِ عِبرَةٌ

وَاللَهُ أَعلَمُ بِالصَوابِ وَأَحكَمُ

وَاللَهُ أَعلَمُ بِالصَوابِ وَأَحكَمُ

This expression is a lesson for the discerning,

This speech should make the understanding think.

And God knows best what is right, and is wisest in judgment.

God knows the right, and He the wisest Judge.