وَكُنتُ أَظُنُّ الحُبَّ بِالضدِّ لِلقِلى

وَكُنتُ أَظُنُّ الحُبَّ بِالضدِّ لِلقِلى

وَلَم أَعتَقِد أَنّ الوِلايَة ضدّهُ

وَلَم أَعتَقِد أَنّ الوِلايَة ضدّهُ

And I used to think love was the opposite of hatred,

And I did not believe that governorship was its opposite.

فَلا تَطلُبوا مِن عِندِ والٍ مودّةً

فَلا تَطلُبوا مِن عِندِ والٍ مودّةً

أَلا رُبَّ والٍ قَد تَغَيَّرَ وُدُّهُ

أَلا رُبَّ والٍ قَد تَغَيَّرَ وُدُّهُ

So do not seek affection from a governor;

Indeed, many a governor's affection has changed.

وَإِن شئتُمُ حَدّاً لِسُكرِ مُعَربِدٍ

وَإِن شئتُمُ حَدّاً لِسُكرِ مُعَربِدٍ

فَلا تَضرِبُوه فَالولايَةُ حَدُّهُ

فَلا تَضرِبُوه فَالولايَةُ حَدُّهُ

And if you want a penalty for a brawler's drunkenness,

Then do not strike him, for governorship is his penalty.