سلامٌpeace علىupon سادةٍnoble men قدindeed جَرىhas become current
سلامٌ على سادةٍ قد جَرى
لهمfor them فيin التمثلproverbial quotation مَنwhoever عزَّprevailed بزَّاplundered
لهم في التمثل مَن عزَّ بزَّا
Peace upon noble men—the saying runs
Greetings to masters who have attained
For them as a proverb: 'Whoever prevails plunders.'
Through incarnation what brings honor and glory,
وإنيand I indeed لفيsurely among رُذُلٍbase men آثَرواchose in preference
وإني لفي رُذُلٍ آثَروا
سبيلَthe path القلابِreversal فمَنْso whoever بَزَّplundered عزّاprevailed
سبيلَ القلابِ فمَنْ بَزَّ عزّا
And I am indeed among base men who have chosen
While I remain mired in ignorance, preferring
The path of reversal: 'Whoever plunders prevails.'
The way of pretenders - so who has true honor?