1. واترٌ ظالمٌ وناقض وتْرٍ

    أيُّ هذيْن يستحق الندامَهْ

    An unjust aggressor and one who redresses a wrong—

    Which of these two deserves regret?

  2. أحليمٌ أصابَ منه سفيهٌ

    فاستردَّ الحليمُ منه الظُّلامَهْ

    Is it a forbearing man whom a fool wronged,

    Whereupon the forbearing man reclaimed his due from him?

  3. أم سفيهٌ أصابَ عِرضَ حليم

    فأصابَ السفيه طفْر عُرامهْ

    Or a fool who assailed a forbearing man's honor,

    And so encountered a leap of ferocity?

  4. خالدَ اللُّؤْمِ أنتَ هيَّجْتَ حَرْبي

    ولقد كنتَ وادعاً في سلامه

    Khalid the base, you stirred up my war,

    And you had indeed been at ease in safety.

  5. فاشتريتَ السهاد بالنومِ جَهلاً

    ورئمتَ الهوان بعدَ الكرامه

    So, in ignorance, you bought sleeplessness with sleep,

    And embraced humiliation after honor.