فما غاب عن حلم ولا شهد الخنا

فما غاب عن حلم ولا شهد الخنا

ولا استعذب العوراء يوماً فقالها

ولا استعذب العوراء يوماً فقالها

So he never strayed from forbearance nor took part in foul speech.

He was never absent from a dream, nor did he attend the gatherings.

Nor ever relished a vile word and so uttered it.

And the maiden never found him sweet, so she could tell him:

يدوم على خير الخلال ويتقي

يدوم على خير الخلال ويتقي

تصرفها من شيمة وانفتالها

تصرفها من شيمة وانفتالها

He holds fast to the finest traits, and guards against

May you always be of the best character and pious.

Their shifting from his character and their turning aside.

May your behavior be honorable and your separation noble.

وتفْضُلُ ايمانَ الرجال شمالُهُ

وتفْضُلُ ايمانَ الرجال شمالُهُ

كما فضلت يمنى يديه شمالَها

كما فضلت يمنى يديه شمالَها

And his left hand surpasses men's right hands,

The faith of men is in their left hand,

Just as his right hand surpasses his left.

Just as their right hand exceeded the left.

وما اجِم المعروف من طول ذكره

وما اجِم المعروف من طول ذكره

وأمراً بأفعال الندى وافتعالها

وأمراً بأفعال الندى وافتعالها

Nor did he tire of kindness through speaking of it at length,

Goodness is not diminished by the length of its mention,

And enjoining generous deeds and carrying them out.

Nor by enjoining acts of benevolence and doing them.

ويبتذل النفس المصونة نفسَه

ويبتذل النفس المصونة نفسَه

إذا ما رأى حقاً عليه ابتذالها

إذا ما رأى حقاً عليه ابتذالها

And he freely expends his guarded self—his very self—

A guarded soul demeans itself,

Whenever he sees that expending it is his duty.

If it sees a right upon it and makes it cheap.

بلوناك في أهل الندى ففضلتهم

بلوناك في أهل الندى ففضلتهم

وباعك في الأبواعِ قدماً فطالها

وباعك في الأبواعِ قدماً فطالها

We tested you among the generous, and you surpassed them;

By your manners among the people of virtue you excelled them,

And tested your armspan against others long ago: it exceeded them.

And by selling yourself to the wicked, the days have prolonged for you.

فأنت الندى فيما ينوبك والسدى

فأنت الندى فيما ينوبك والسدى

إذا الخَوْد عدت عقبة القدر مالها

إذا الخَوْد عدت عقبة القدر مالها

So you are dew and night-dew in all that befalls you,

So you are gentility in what befalls you, and otherwise you are corrupt,

When a fair maiden counts the broth returned with a borrowed pot as her wealth.

When fate makes misfortune a barrier, it leans toward it.