ولما قرعتمْ بابَ عتبى فتحتُه

ولما قرعتمْ بابَ عتبى فتحتُه

وإلا فادخلاه وافبلا ما حييتمُا

وإلا فادخلاه وافبلا ما حييتمُا

And when you knocked at the door of my reproach, I opened it.

When you knocked on the door of my affection, I opened it

Otherwise, enter it, both of you, and [accept it?] as long as you live.

Otherwise, come in and act kindly as long as you live

وأججتمَا نارَ الملامةِ فاصبرا

وأججتمَا نارَ الملامةِ فاصبرا

على حرِّها من حَرِّها قد وقيتُما

على حرِّها من حَرِّها قد وقيتُما

And you both kindled the fire of reproach; so endure

And you ignited the fire of blame, so be patient

its heat—you both had been protected from its heat.

With its heat, I have protected you from its harm

ظننتكما عوناً على كلِّ حادثٍ

ظننتكما عوناً على كلِّ حادثٍ

فأخلقتُمَا كنى فما ذا خشيتُما

فأخلقتُمَا كنى فما ذا خشيتُما

I thought you both a support against every misfortune.

I thought you were a helper in every accident

But you both wore out [my shelter?]; what, then, did you fear?

But you pretended, so what did you fear?

وأصبحتُما عونَ الحوادثِ إن أتتْ

وأصبحتُما عونَ الحوادثِ إن أتتْ

علىَّ أهذا منكُما لا شَقِيتُما

علىَّ أهذا منكُما لا شَقِيتُما

And you both became allies of misfortunes, if they came

And you became a helper of troubles if they came

upon me—is this from you both? May neither of you suffer misery!

To me, is this from you or have you not caused me misery?

إذا ما حباني اللهُ يوماً بنعمةٍ

إذا ما حباني اللهُ يوماً بنعمةٍ

وألبسني من عزِّهِ ما رضيتُما

وألبسني من عزِّهِ ما رضيتُما

When God favored me one day with a blessing,

If God blesses me one day with a bounty

and clothed me in some of His glory, you both were not pleased.

And clothes me with glory that satisfies you

إذا عَثَرَتْ فلم بشخصيَ لاَ لَعاً

إذا عَثَرَتْ فلم بشخصيَ لاَ لَعاً

وما زالَ طول الدهر قولى سقيتُما

وما زالَ طول الدهر قولى سقيتُما

When a stumble occurred, [unclear wording] concerning me: 'No recovery!'

When I stumble you do not support me out of kindness

Yet throughout all time I kept saying, 'May you both receive rain!'

And my words have always quenched your thirst

وإني مقيمٌ ما حييتُ على الوفَا

وإني مقيمٌ ما حييتُ على الوفَا

وإنكمَا في جَفْوتي ما بقيتُمَا

وإنكمَا في جَفْوتي ما بقيتُمَا

And I remain steadfast in loyalty for as long as I live,

And I will remain faithful as long as I live

while you both keep shunning me for as long as you live.

While you remain aloof from me as long as you live

وحَاشَا كُما الإفسادُ في بيعِ حِصَّتي

وحَاشَا كُما الإفسادُ في بيعِ حِصَّتي

لأَنّكما في رأب حالي دُعِيتُما

لأَنّكما في رأب حالي دُعِيتُما

And far be it from you both to cause harm in selling my share,

Far be it from you to corrupt in selling my share

because you both were called upon to mend my condition.

For you were called to mend my condition

قطعتمْ حبالَ الود منى فما الذي

قطعتمْ حبالَ الود منى فما الذي

جَرى من أخيكم فيكما لا مُنِيتُما

جَرى من أخيكم فيكما لا مُنِيتُما

You severed the cords of affection with me; what, then,

You have severed the ropes of affection from me, so what

has your brother done to you both? May neither of you be afflicted!

Has happened from your brother that you forgot him?

وإنِّي على العهد القديمِ لحافظٌ

وإنِّي على العهد القديمِ لحافظٌ

وست بناسٍ ودّكم لو نسينُما

وست بناسٍ ودّكم لو نسينُما

And I faithfully keep the old pledge,

And I adhere to the ancient covenant

and [I am not] one to forget your affection, even if [you both forget].

And I have known people whose love for you, had you forgotten them

ألا ما صفيا قولا وفعلا وخلقةً

ألا ما صفيا قولا وفعلا وخلقةً

فأنتمْ إلى سُبُل التقى قد هُدِيتُما

فأنتمْ إلى سُبُل التقى قد هُدِيتُما

Take heed: [purify] your speech, deeds, and character,

Oh no, what pure words, deeds and manners

for you both have been guided to the paths of piety.

You are guided to the paths of piety

فإن كنتُما لا تقبلاَ النصحَ مِنْ فتى

فإن كنتُما لا تقبلاَ النصحَ مِنْ فتى

ألا فاذهَبا في القولِ من حيثُ حيثُما

ألا فاذهَبا في القولِ من حيثُ حيثُما

So if you will not accept counsel from a young man,

So if you do not accept advice from a young man

take heed, then: go your way in speech, from wherever—wherever it may be.

Then go on in speech wherever you desire

وها أنا ذا والدهرُ والقولُ والمَلا

وها أنا ذا والدهرُ والقولُ والمَلا

فقولاَ وسيرَا وافعَلا كيفَ شئتُما

فقولاَ وسيرَا وافعَلا كيفَ شئتُما

And here I am—with time, speech, and the assembly.

And here I am, and fate, words and retreat

So speak, journey, and act however you both wish.

So speak, travel and act as you wish