كلُّ امرىءٍ مدح امرأً لنواله

كلُّ امرىءٍ مدح امرأً لنواله

فأطال فيه فقد أراد هجاءَهُ

فأطال فيه فقد أراد هجاءَهُ

Every man who praises another for his bounty

Every man praises a man for his generosity,

and prolongs that praise has meant to satirize him.

So if he exaggerates, he intends to insult him.

لو لم يقدِّر فيه بُعْدَ المُسْتقَى

لو لم يقدِّر فيه بُعْدَ المُسْتقَى

عند الورود لَمَا أطال رشاءَهُ

عند الورود لَمَا أطال رشاءَهُ

Had he not reckoned his water-source far below,

If he did not appreciate the remoteness of the goal

on coming to draw water, he would not have lengthened his well-rope.

When bestowing gifts, he would not exaggerate his praise.

غيري فإني لا أطيل مدائحي

غيري فإني لا أطيل مدائحي

إلا لأوفي من مدحتُ ثناءَهُ

إلا لأوفي من مدحتُ ثناءَهُ

Except me, for I do not prolong my poems of praise

But I do not exaggerate my eulogies

except to give the one I praise his full due of praise.

Except to give the one I praise his due.

وأَعُدُّ ظلماً أن أُقِلَّ مديحَهُ

وأَعُدُّ ظلماً أن أُقِلَّ مديحَهُ

عمداً وأَسخطُ أنْ يُقِلَّ عطاءَهُ

عمداً وأَسخطُ أنْ يُقِلَّ عطاءَهُ

And I deem it unjust to lessen my praise of him

And I would consider it an injustice to intentionally minimize his praise,

deliberately, and I resent his lessening his bounty.

And be angry if he were to minimize his gifts.