تَعَلَّم أَنَّ خَيرَ الناسِ مَيتٌ

تَعَلَّم أَنَّ خَيرَ الناسِ مَيتٌ

عَلى جَفرِ الهَباءَةِ لا يَريمُ

عَلى جَفرِ الهَباءَةِ لا يَريمُ

Know that the best of men is dead,

I learned that the best of people is a dead man

At the waterhole of al-Haba'ah, never to depart.

Lying on the sands of desolation, no longer ambitious.

لقد فجعت به قيس جميعاً

لقد فجعت به قيس جميعاً

موالي القوم والقومُ الصميمُ

موالي القوم والقومُ الصميمُ

All of Qays has indeed been stricken by his loss,

His death has filled all of Qais with grief -

The tribe's clients and its members of pure lineage.

My friends of the tribe, and the tribe’s essence.

وعم به لمقتلهِ بعيدٌ

وعم به لمقتلهِ بعيدٌ

وخصَّ به لمقتله صميمُ

وخصَّ به لمقتله صميمُ

And his killing brought grief even to those far removed,

Far and wide, the news of his killing spread,

And his killing brought special grief to his own true kin.

And it specially pained the tribe’s core.

وَلَولا ظُلمُهُ مازِلتُ اَبكي

وَلَولا ظُلمُهُ مازِلتُ اَبكي

عَلَيهِ الدَهرَ ما طَلَعَ النُجومُ

عَلَيهِ الدَهرَ ما طَلَعَ النُجومُ

And were it not for his injustice, I would never cease weeping

If not for his wronging others, I’d have wept for him

For him forever, as long as the stars rise.

As long as the stars rose in the sky.

وَلَكِنَّ الفَتى حَمَلَ بنَ بَدرٍ

وَلَكِنَّ الفَتى حَمَلَ بنَ بَدرٍ

بَغى وَالبَغيُ مَرتَعُهُ وَخيمُ

بَغى وَالبَغيُ مَرتَعُهُ وَخيمُ

But the young man Hamal son of Badr

But the lad carried the sons of Badr -

Acted unjustly—and injustice's pasture is unwholesome.

Their transgression was his pasture and abode.

أَظُنُّ الحِلمَ دَلَّ عَلَيَّ قَومي

أَظُنُّ الحِلمَ دَلَّ عَلَيَّ قَومي

وَقَد يُستَجهَلُ الرَجُلُ الحَليمُ

وَقَد يُستَجهَلُ الرَجُلُ الحَليمُ

I think forbearance has emboldened my people against me,

I reckoned my forbearance had been known by my people,

And a forbearing man may be goaded into rashness.

Though a forbearing man may be thought a fool.

وَمارَستُ الرَجالَ وَمارَسوني

وَمارَستُ الرَجالَ وَمارَسوني

فَمُعوَجٌّ عَلَيَّ وَمُستَقيمُ

فَمُعوَجٌّ عَلَيَّ وَمُستَقيمُ

And I have dealt with men, and they have dealt with me,

I mixed with men, and they mixed with me -

Some crooked toward me, and some upright.

Some were crooked with me, some were straight.

فَلا تَغشَ المَظالِمِ لَن تَراهُ

فَلا تَغشَ المَظالِمِ لَن تَراهُ

يُمَتَّعُ بِالغِنى الرَجُلُ الظَلومُ

يُمَتَّعُ بِالغِنى الرَجُلُ الظَلومُ

So do not commit injustices: you will never see

Do not cover over wrongs - you’ll never see

An oppressive man allowed to enjoy wealth.

An unjust man made joyous by wealth.

وَلا تَعجَل بِأَمرِكَ وَاِستَدِمهُ

وَلا تَعجَل بِأَمرِكَ وَاِستَدِمهُ

فَما صَلّى عَصاكَ كَمُستَديمُ

فَما صَلّى عَصاكَ كَمُستَديمُ

And do not rush your undertaking; persevere with it,

Do not hastily proceed with your affair, but persist.

For none straightens your staff over fire like one who perseveres.

Your stick has not yet become accustomed to praying.

أُلاقي مِن رِجالٍ مُنكَراتٍ

أُلاقي مِن رِجالٍ مُنكَراتٍ

فَأُنكِرُها وَما أَنا بِالغَشومِ

فَأُنكِرُها وَما أَنا بِالغَشومِ

I encounter wrongful deeds from men,

I face reprehensible deeds from men,

So I condemn them, yet I am no ruthless oppressor.

And I denounce them, for I am no deceiver.

وَلا يُعِتبكَ عَن قُربٍ بَلاءٌ

وَلا يُعِتبكَ عَن قُربٍ بَلاءٌ

إِذا لَم يُعطِكَ النَصَفَ الخُصومُ

إِذا لَم يُعطِكَ النَصَفَ الخُصومُ

Nor will hardship soon bring you satisfaction,

No calamity should make you complain of being too close,

If your adversaries do not grant you fair treatment.

If your opponent does not give you even half.