يا لَلرجالِ توسّموا وتبيَّنوا

يا لَلرجالِ توسّموا وتبيَّنوا

في خالدٍ شبهاً منَ الحجاجِ

في خالدٍ شبهاً منَ الحجاجِ

O men, look closely and discern

O men, beware and take heed,

in Khalid a likeness to al-Hajjaj:

Of a Khalid whose traits resemble Al-Hajjaj,

إغضاؤُهُ عمَّن يُقرُّ بذنبه

إغضاؤُهُ عمَّن يُقرُّ بذنبه

وحلول نقمته بكلِّ مُداجي

وحلول نقمته بكلِّ مُداجي

his turning a blind eye to whoever admits his guilt,

Whose anger is unleashed at the one who admits his sin,

and his vengeance falling on every dissembler.

And whose wrath befalls all vagrants.

رجل يحب الصادقين لصدقهم

رجل يحب الصادقين لصدقهم

والصدقُ أفضل نَجوةٍ للناجي

والصدقُ أفضل نَجوةٍ للناجي

A man who loves the truthful for their truthfulness,

A man who loves the truthful for their honesty,

and truthfulness is the best high ground for one seeking safety.

And truthfulness is the best salvation for one in distress.

صَدقَتْهُ أمُّ عياله عمّا بها

صَدقَتْهُ أمُّ عياله عمّا بها

من شهوة الإِيلاج والإِخراجِ

من شهوة الإِيلاج والإِخراجِ

The mother of his children spoke truthfully to him about her

His mother's honesty from what was in her,

desire for penetration and withdrawal.

Of the desire for penetration and withdrawal.

فأباحها شهواتِها وأَجَرَّها

فأباحها شهواتِها وأَجَرَّها

حبلَ السِّفاح كأكرم الأزواجِ

حبلَ السِّفاح كأكرم الأزواجِ

So he allowed her her desires and let her trail

So he permitted her desires and allowed her

the rope of fornication, like the most generous of husbands.

The rope of adultery like the most generous of husbands.