أَغَرُّ كَمِصباحُ الدُجُنَّةِ يَتَّقي

أَغَرُّ كَمِصباحُ الدُجُنَّةِ يَتَّقي

قَذى الزادِ حَتّى يُستَفادَ أَطايِبُه

قَذى الزادِ حَتّى يُستَفادَ أَطايِبُه

Radiant as a lamp in the darkness, he shuns

He shines like a lamp in the darkest night,

The taint of food until its choicest portions have been enjoyed.

Carefully guarding his provisions until their goodness can be taken advantage of.

وَهَوَّنَ وَجدي عَن خَليلِيَ أَنَّني

وَهَوَّنَ وَجدي عَن خَليلِيَ أَنَّني

إِذا شِئتُ لاقيتُ اَمراً ماتَ صاحِبُه

إِذا شِئتُ لاقيتُ اَمراً ماتَ صاحِبُه

And what eased my grief for my dear friend was that

The thought of my friend made my sadness easier to bear,

Whenever I wished, I could meet a man whose companion had died.

For if I wish, I can meet someone whose companion is dead.

وَمَن يَرَ بِالأَقوامِ يَوماً يَروا بِهِ

وَمَن يَرَ بِالأَقوامِ يَوماً يَروا بِهِ

مَعَرَّةَ يَومٍ لا تُوارى كَواكِبُه

مَعَرَّةَ يَومٍ لا تُوارى كَواكِبُه

And if one sees others afflicted one day, they will see him suffer

And whoever sees a day the people see with it

The affliction of a day whose stars are not veiled.

The nakedness of a day whose stars cannot be concealed,

فَقُل لِلَّذي يُبدي الشَماتَةَ جاهِداً

فَقُل لِلَّذي يُبدي الشَماتَةَ جاهِداً

سَيَأتيكَ كاسٌ أَنتَ لا بُدَّ شارِبُه

سَيَأتيكَ كاسٌ أَنتَ لا بُدَّ شارِبُه

So tell the one who zealously displays his gloating:

Say to the one who proudly shows enmity,

A cup will come to you—you are bound to drink it.

“A cup will come to you which you inevitably must drink.”

أَخٌ ماجِدٌ لَم يُخزِني يَومَ مَشهَدٍ

أَخٌ ماجِدٌ لَم يُخزِني يَومَ مَشهَدٍ

كَما سَيفُ عَمرٍو لَم تَخُنهُ مَضارِبُه

كَما سَيفُ عَمرٍو لَم تَخُنهُ مَضارِبُه

A noble brother who never shamed me on a day of battle,

A glorious brother who did not dishonor me on the day of assembly,

Just as the cutting edges of Amr's sword never betrayed him.

As the sword of Amr did not fail him in battle.

وَلَم تَرَ عَيني سوقَةً مِثلُ مالِكٍ

وَلَم تَرَ عَيني سوقَةً مِثلُ مالِكٍ

وَلا مُلكاً تُجبي إِلَيهِ مَرازِبُه

وَلا مُلكاً تُجبي إِلَيهِ مَرازِبُه

And my eye has never seen a commoner like Malik,

And my eyes have not seen a warrior like Malik,

Nor a king to whom his satraps bring tribute.

Nor a king to whom troops march.