قالَ لِيَ الناسُ زُر سَعيدَ بنَ سَلَمٍ

قالَ لِيَ الناسُ زُر سَعيدَ بنَ سَلَمٍ

قُلتُ لِلناسِ لا أَزورُ سَعيدا

قُلتُ لِلناسِ لا أَزورُ سَعيدا

The people said to me, “Visit Sa‘id ibn Salm.”

The people told me, "Visit Sa'id ibn Salam,"

The people urged me, "Pay a visit to Sa'id bin Salm,"

I said to the people, “I will not visit Sa‘id.”

I told the people, "I will not visit Sa'id."

I answered the people, "I shall not visit Sa'id,"

وَأَميري فَتى خُزاعَةَ بِالبَصرَةِ

وَأَميري فَتى خُزاعَةَ بِالبَصرَةِ

قَد عَمَّها سَماحاً وَجودا

قَد عَمَّها سَماحاً وَجودا

And my emir, the young man of Khuza‘a in Basra,

My prince is a young man of Khuza'a in Basra

For my prince is the noble youth of Khuza'a in Basra,

has filled it with generosity and bounty.

Who has spread generosity and munificence there.

Who has encompassed the city with largesse and bounty,

وَلَنِعمَ الفَتى سَعيدٌ وَلَكِن

وَلَنِعمَ الفَتى سَعيدٌ وَلَكِن

مالِكٌ أَكرَمُ البَرِيَّةِ عودا

مالِكٌ أَكرَمُ البَرِيَّةِ عودا

And Sa‘id is indeed an excellent young man, but

Sa'id is indeed a fine young man, but

And truly, Sa'id is an excellent youth, yet still,

Malik is the noblest of all mankind in stock.

Malik is the most generous person alive.

Malik is of the noblest timber in all creation."