عَدِمتُ رياسة قومٍ شقُوا

عَدِمتُ رياسة قومٍ شقُوا

شباباً ونالُوا الغِنى حينَ شابوا

شباباً ونالُوا الغِنى حينَ شابوا

May I be spared the leadership of people who suffered

I lost leadership of a people who grew up spoiled,

in youth, and gained wealth when they grew gray.

And gained wealth when they were young.

حديثٌ بنعمتِهم عهدُهُم

حديثٌ بنعمتِهم عهدُهُم

فليس لهم في المعالي نِصابُ

فليس لهم في المعالي نِصابُ

Their acquaintance with prosperity is recent,

They are newly endowed with blessings -

so they have no roots in nobility.

Yet have no share in glory.

يَرَوْنَ التكبّرَ مُستصوباً

يَرَوْنَ التكبّرَ مُستصوباً

من الكبر والرأْيُ لا يُستَطابُ

من الكبر والرأْيُ لا يُستَطابُ

They deem arrogance fitting,

They see arrogance as appropriate,

out of pride, though such judgment finds no favor.

Yet arrogance and opinion are not to be desired.

فإن كاتَبُوا صادقُوا في الدُّعاءِ

فإن كاتَبُوا صادقُوا في الدُّعاءِ

كأنَّ دعاءَهُمُ مُسْتَجَابُ

كأنَّ دعاءَهُمُ مُسْتَجَابُ

So if they correspond, they are sincere in prayer,

If they write, they are sincere in prayer,

as though their prayer were answered.

As if their prayers are sure to be answered.