إذا ما العكبريّ دنا وأدنى

إذا ما العكبريّ دنا وأدنى

إليك من المروءة ما تريد

إليك من المروءة ما تريد

If al-Ukbari draws near and brings close

When the crafty one draws near and approaches you

To you the noble conduct you desire,

Seeking to obtain what he desires from your nobility

وما حضك النصيحة والتواني

وما حضك النصيحة والتواني

وليس على مودته مزيد

وليس على مودته مزيد

And does not urge you toward counsel and slackness,

And advice and hesitation do not deter him

And his affection could be no greater,

Nor does more of your friendship suffice him

هناك توقّه بل خفه واحذر

هناك توقّه بل خفه واحذر

أذاه فإنّه أفعى زرود

أذاه فإنّه أفعى زرود

Then beware of him—rather, fear him and guard against

Beware there, do not come close, be cautious

His harm, for he is a ravenous viper.

Of his harm, he is a cunning, deceitful snake

إذا طالبته جداوه ألوى

إذا طالبته جداوه ألوى

وكيف بنيلك الجدوى الحسود

وكيف بنيلك الجدوى الحسود

When you ask him for his bounty, he turns away;

If you seek earnestness from him, he will twist and writhe

How can you gain bounty from an envious man?

And how will you gain good from an envious one

يلين إلى السرور ويشتهيه

يلين إلى السرور ويشتهيه

إذا ما الخير أبصره جديد

إذا ما الخير أبصره جديد

He inclines toward joy and desires it,

He inclines towards happiness and desires it

Whenever he sees some new good.

Whenever he sees some new good