بَني مَخلَدٍ كُفّوا تَدَفُّقَ جودِكُم

بَني مَخلَدٍ كُفّوا تَدَفُّقَ جودِكُم

وَلا تَبخَسونا حَظَّنا في المَكارِمِ

وَلا تَبخَسونا حَظَّنا في المَكارِمِ

Sons of Makhlad, restrain the torrent of your generosity,

O sons of Makhled, cease your bountiful flow

And do not diminish our share in noble deeds.

And deny us not our share of virtues.

وَلا تَنصُروا مَجدَي قَنانٍ وَمالِكٍ

وَلا تَنصُروا مَجدَي قَنانٍ وَمالِكٍ

بِأَن تَذهَبوا مِنّا بِسُمعَةِ حاتِمِ

بِأَن تَذهَبوا مِنّا بِسُمعَةِ حاتِمِ

And do not uphold the glories of Qanan and Malik

Magnify not the glory of Qanan and Malik

By taking Hatim's renown away from us.

By stealing Hatem’s reputation from us.

وَكانَ لَنا اسمُ الجودِ حَتّى جَعَلتُمُ

وَكانَ لَنا اسمُ الجودِ حَتّى جَعَلتُمُ

تَغَضّونَ مِنّا بِالخِلالِ الكَرائِمِ

تَغَضّونَ مِنّا بِالخِلالِ الكَرائِمِ

And the reputation for generosity was ours, until you began

We had the name of generosity until you

To lower our standing through your noble qualities.

Belittled us for lacking perfect virtues.

وَشَيَّبَني أَلّا أَزالَ مُجَرِّراً

وَشَيَّبَني أَلّا أَزالَ مُجَرِّراً

سَرابيلَ سَآّلٍ كَثيرِ المَغارِمِ

سَرابيلَ سَآّلٍ كَثيرِ المَغارِمِ

And it has turned me gray to keep dragging

I've grown old still unable to rob

The garments of a persistent beggar with many debts.

A beggar's pants though I crave riches.

وَما خَطَري دونَ الغِنى إِن بَلَغتُهُ

وَما خَطَري دونَ الغِنى إِن بَلَغتُهُ

سُؤالاً وَلا عِرضي نَظيرُ الدَراهِمِ

سُؤالاً وَلا عِرضي نَظيرُ الدَراهِمِ

And my worth is not less than wealth, if I attain it

My dignity stops short of begging wealth

By begging; nor is my honor comparable to dirhams.

Nor is my honor cheap as coins.