حَلُمَ اِبنُ قَنبَرَ حينَ أَقصَرَ جَهلُهُ

حَلُمَ اِبنُ قَنبَرَ حينَ أَقصَرَ جَهلُهُ

هَل كانَ يَحلُمُ شاعِرٌ عَن شاعِرِ

هَل كانَ يَحلُمُ شاعِرٌ عَن شاعِرِ

Ibn Qanbar showed forbearance when his folly ceased.

The dream of Ibn Qanbar's son when his ignorance was brief

Has a poet ever shown forbearance toward another poet?

Did a poet ever dream of another poet?

ما أَنتَ بِالحَكَمِ الَّذي سُمِّيتَهُ

ما أَنتَ بِالحَكَمِ الَّذي سُمِّيتَهُ

غالَتكَ حِلمَكَ هَفوَةٌ مِن قاهِرِ

غالَتكَ حِلمَكَ هَفوَةٌ مِن قاهِرِ

You are not the “arbiter” (al-Hakam) you were called.

You are not the wise man you were named

A lapse from a conqueror robbed you of your forbearance.

Your dream belied you, a delusion from the Almighty

لَولا اِعتِذارُكَ لَاِرتَمى بِكَ زاخِرٌ

لَولا اِعتِذارُكَ لَاِرتَمى بِكَ زاخِرٌ

مَرِجُ العُبابِ يَفوتُ طَرفَ الناظِرِ

مَرِجُ العُبابِ يَفوتُ طَرفَ الناظِرِ

But for your apology, a surging sea would have hurled you away,

Were it not for your apology, a harmer would have attacked you

Its billows turbulent, stretching beyond the beholder’s gaze.

The mirage disappears before the onlooker's eyes

لا تُرتِعَن لَحمي لِسانَكَ بعدَها

لا تُرتِعَن لَحمي لِسانَكَ بعدَها

إِنّي أَخافُ عَلَيكَ شَفرَةَ جازِرِ

إِنّي أَخافُ عَلَيكَ شَفرَةَ جازِرِ

Do not let your tongue graze on my flesh after this.

Do not let your tongue chew my flesh after this

Indeed, I fear for you a butcher’s blade.

I fear the butcher's blade for you

وَاِستَغنِم العَفوَ الَّذي أوتيتَهُ

وَاِستَغنِم العَفوَ الَّذي أوتيتَهُ

لا تَأمَنَنَّ عُقوبَةً مِن قادِرِ

لا تَأمَنَنَّ عُقوبَةً مِن قادِرِ

And make the most of the pardon you have been granted.

Make the most of the pardon you have been given

Never feel safe from punishment by one with power.

Do not feel safe from the punishment of the Able One