أسأتُ فأحسَن بي جُهْدَهُ

أسأتُ فأحسَن بي جُهْدَهُ

ولو شاء عاقَبني وانتصرْ

ولو شاء عاقَبني وانتصرْ

I did wrong, yet he was as kind to me as he could.

I wronged him, yet he repaid me with kindness,

And had he wished, he would have punished me and taken revenge.

Though he could have punished me and claimed revenge.

وكان المقال له واسعاً

وكان المقال له واسعاً

ولكنْ تطوَّل لما قَدَرْ

ولكنْ تطوَّل لما قَدَرْ

And there was much he could have said,

He had ample cause for blame,

but he showed magnanimity when he had the power.

But he chose to act with forbearance.

فأصبحتُ بالجود عبداً له

فأصبحتُ بالجود عبداً له

أقرُّ بذاك وإن كنتُ حُرْ

أقرُّ بذاك وإن كنتُ حُرْ

So through his generosity I became his slave;

So by his generosity I became his servant -

I acknowledge it, though I am free.

I admit this, though I was free.

ومن كَثُرَتْ نِعمةٌ عندهُ

ومن كَثُرَتْ نِعمةٌ عندهُ

عليه أقرّت وإن لم يُقِر

عليه أقرّت وإن لم يُقِر

And whoever has received abundant favor—

When favors grow many from someone,

it bears witness against him, even if he does not acknowledge it.

I acknowledge them, even if he does not.

فاجأ الناس خالداً وابنَ عشر

فاجأ الناس خالداً وابنَ عشر

قد علاه يخوض بالأير جَعْرَهْ

قد علاه يخوض بالأير جَعْرَهْ

The people surprised Khalid and a boy of ten,

So Khaled surprised people - he, a lad of ten -

who had mounted him, plunging through his shit with his cock.

Riding atop a revered old man.

فرأى الناسُ آيةً من صَبِيٍّ

فرأى الناسُ آيةً من صَبِيٍّ

فوق شيخ له جلالٌ وَكَبْره

فوق شيخ له جلالٌ وَكَبْره

So the people saw a wonder from a boy

The people saw a marvel in this boy

atop an old man of dignity and advanced age.

Lifted over an elder of dignity and age.

طفِقوا يَعجبون منه فقال ال

طفِقوا يَعجبون منه فقال ال

شيْخ لا تنْكِرُنَّ للَّهِ قُدْرَه

شيْخ لا تنْكِرُنَّ للَّهِ قُدْرَه

They began marveling at him; then spoke the

Amazed, the sheikh spoke: "Do not doubt God's power!

old man: “Do not deny God's power.

The elephant was subdued for a slight man to ride its back.

سُخِّر الفيلُ وهُوَ أعظم مني

سُخِّر الفيلُ وهُوَ أعظم مني

لضئيل الرجال يركب ظهره

لضئيل الرجال يركب ظهره

The elephant was made submissive, though it is larger than I,

Excuse Khaled, do not rebuke him,

to a puny man who rides its back.”

O people! His justification is clear to me.

اعذِرُوا خالداً ولا تَعذِلوه

اعذِرُوا خالداً ولا تَعذِلوه

أيها الناس قد تبيَّنتُ عُذرَه

أيها الناس قد تبيَّنتُ عُذرَه

Excuse Khalid, and do not reproach him,

I am an old man made to serve as his mount;

O people; I have understood his excuse.

No creature escapes being used by the One who makes him serve.

هو شيخٌ مُسخَّرُ الظهر لا ين

هو شيخٌ مُسخَّرُ الظهر لا ين

فكُّ من سُخرةٍ على إثر سُخره

فكُّ من سُخرةٍ على إثر سُخره

He is an old man whose back is subjugated, never

I am to you as is Faris to Qahtan -

free from one servitude following another.

If I do not make you famed among men.

أنا من فارس كمثلك من قح

أنا من فارس كمثلك من قح

طانَ إن لم أدعْك في الناس شُهْره

طانَ إن لم أدعْك في الناس شُهْره

I am of Persia, as you are of Qah—

You are not one who found me first,

tan, if I do not make you a byword among the people!

Nor are you more entitled to me than a black date is to its pit."

لسْتَ مِمّنْ لقَيتَ قَبليَ أوْلَى

لسْتَ مِمّنْ لقَيتَ قَبليَ أوْلَى

لك مني ما كل سوداءَ تَمْره

لك مني ما كل سوداءَ تَمْره

You are not one of those you met before me—woe

to you from me! Not every black thing is a date.