بِالعَدلِwith justice تَزدانُare adorned المُلوكُthe kings وَماand nothing
بِالعَدلِ تَزدانُ المُلوكُ وَما
شانَmarred اِبنَthe son of أَيّوبَAyyub سِوىexcept العَدلِjustice
شانَ اِبنَ أَيّوبَ سِوى العَدلِ
Kings are adorned by justice, and nothing
With justice kings are adorned, and naught
has marred the son of Ayyub except justice.
But justice was the fame of Ayyub's son;
هُوَhe دَلوُthe bucket of دَولَتِهِhis realm بِلاwithout سَبَبٍa rope
هُوَ دَلوُ دَولَتِهِ بِلا سَبَبٍ
فَمَتىso when يُرىis seen ذاthis الدَّلوُthe bucket فيon حَبلِa rope
فَمَتى يُرى ذا الدَّلوُ في حَبلِ
He is the bucket of his realm, without a rope;
The bucket circling in his kingdom's well
so when is this bucket seen on a rope?
Uplifted, causeless, to the top would run.
صِفرٌempty خَلاis devoid مِنof كُلِّevery مَكرُمَةٍnoble quality
صِفرٌ خَلا مِن كُلِّ مَكرُمَةٍ
مَعdespite صيتِهِhis renown فيamong النَّاسِthe people كَالطَبلِlike a drum
مَع صيتِهِ في النَّاسِ كَالطَبلِ
Empty, devoid of every noble quality,
Though bare of all that men think honorable,
despite his renown among the people—like a drum.
His name was drummed by Fame the world upon.