وزيرَO minister الشآمal-Sham فدتكmay they ransom you النفوسthe souls
وزيرَ الشآم فدتك النفوس
فلستfor you are not عنfrom الفضلِgenerosity بالمعرضone who turns away
فلست عن الفضلِ بالمعرض
O minister of al-Sham, may souls be your ransom.
I ransom you, minister of Syria, with my soul
For you do not turn away from generosity.
You are not one to spurn merit
أتيتكI came to you فيin وقتa time غيظٍanger فماyet not
أتيتك في وقت غيظٍ فما
خرجتyou departed عنfrom المكرمthe generous one الرّيضthe gentle one
خرجت عن المكرم الرّيض
I came to you at a time of anger, yet you did not
I came to you in a time of anger, yet
Depart from being generous and gentle.
You did not depart from being gracious
ومنand whoever كانَwas فيin غيظهِhis anger محسناًdoing good
ومن كانَ في غيظهِ محسناً
فكيفَthen how يكونwill he be إذاwhen ماan emphatic particle رضيhe is pleased
فكيفَ يكون إذا ما رضي
And whoever is beneficent in his anger—
He who is virtuous in his wrath
Then how will he be when he is pleased?
How would he be if content?