أَلا أَبلِغ أَبا بَحرٍ خَليلي

أَلا أَبلِغ أَبا بَحرٍ خَليلي

فَنِعمَ أَخو المَوَدَّةِ وَالخَليلُ

فَنِعمَ أَخو المَوَدَّةِ وَالخَليلُ

Pray, tell my dear friend Abū Baḥr:

Ah, tell Abu Bahr, my close friend—

for Nuʿmān is a brother in affection and an intimate friend—

For he is a fine brother in affection and a close companion—

بِأن قَد تَمَّ بَعدُكُمُ بِنائي

بِأن قَد تَمَّ بَعدُكُمُ بِنائي

وَضَنَّ عَليَّ بِالمَعروفِ فيلُ

وَضَنَّ عَليَّ بِالمَعروفِ فيلُ

that, after your departure, my building was completed,

That my building has been completed since you left,

and Fīl withheld the favor from me.

And Fil has withheld kindness from me.

فَهَب لي مِن جذوعِكُمُ جذوعاً

فَهَب لي مِن جذوعِكُمُ جذوعاً

وَأَكثَرُ لَيسَ خَيرَكُم الغَليلُ

وَأَكثَرُ لَيسَ خَيرَكُم الغَليلُ

So grant me, from your timber, one little beam,

So give me some of your tree trunks,

and more—your bounty is not scant.

And give abundantly—the rancorous man is not the best among you.