1. تَرَونَ بُلوغَ المَجدِ أَنَّ ثِيابَكُم

    يَلوحُ عَلَيكُم حُسنُها وَبَصيصُها

    You think attaining glory means that your garments

    Display their beauty and gleam upon you.

  2. وَلَيسَ العُلا دُرّاعَةٌ وَرِداؤُها

    وَلا جُبَّةٌ مَوشِيَّةٌ وَقَميصُها

    But greatness is no tunic and its mantle,

    Nor an embroidered robe and its shirt—

  3. وَإِلّا كَما اِستَنَّ الثَوابيُّ إِذ جَرَت

    عَلى عادَةٍ أَثوابُهُ وَخُروصُها

    Unless it be as al-Thawabi established the practice, when

    His garments and their valuations followed a settled custom:

  4. يُخَصُّ بَهاءً في العُيونِ وَقيمَةً

    وَيَبذُلُها حَتى يَعُمَّ خُصوصُها

    He is distinguished in people's eyes by splendor and worth,

    And gives them away until their exclusiveness is shared by all.

  5. يَبيتُ عَلى الإِخوانِ غالي ثِيابِهِ

    وَيُصبِحُ مَتروكاً عَلَيهِ رَخيصُها

    His costly garments spend the night upon his friends,

    And morning finds the cheap ones left upon him.