لَعَمرُكَ ما المُبَرّدُ بِالسَديدِ

لَعَمرُكَ ما المُبَرّدُ بِالسَديدِ

وَلا بِالمُستَفيدِ وَلا المُفيدِ

وَلا بِالمُستَفيدِ وَلا المُفيدِ

By your life, al-Mubarrad is not sound in judgment,

By your life! Al-Mubarrad is not excellent

Nor one who gains knowledge, nor one who imparts it.

Neither useful nor gaining benefit.

يَفِرُّ مِنَ المُناظِرِ إِن أَتاهُ

يَفِرُّ مِنَ المُناظِرِ إِن أَتاهُ

وَيَرمي مَن يُرامي مِن بَعيدِ

وَيَرمي مَن يُرامي مِن بَعيدِ

He flees the debater if he comes to him,

He flees from discourse if it comes to him

And shoots from afar at whoever trades shots with him.

And casts at one who casts from afar.