وَأَخٍ لَيسَ شَأنُهُ شُكرَ نُعمى

وَأَخٍ لَيسَ شَأنُهُ شُكرَ نُعمى

لَفظُهُ عَن مَسالِكِ الشُكرِ أَعمى

لَفظُهُ عَن مَسالِكِ الشُكرِ أَعمى

And a brother whose way is not to give thanks for a favor—

A brother who is ungrateful for blessings,

His speech is blind to the paths of gratitude.

His speech blind to the paths of gratitude.

إِنَّما يَمدَحُ القَليلَ اِتِّفاقا

إِنَّما يَمدَحُ القَليلَ اِتِّفاقا

فَإِذا ما الكَثيرُ وافاهُ ذَمّا

فَإِذا ما الكَثيرُ وافاهُ ذَمّا

He praises small favors only by chance;

He only praises the little out of chance,

But when much comes his way, he disparages it.

Yet when the plenty comes to him, he blames.

أَنا بَينَ الهِجاءِ وَالمَدحِ مِنهُ

أَنا بَينَ الهِجاءِ وَالمَدحِ مِنهُ

إِن أَتاهُ بِرّي فَإِمّا وَإِمّا

إِن أَتاهُ بِرّي فَإِمّا وَإِمّا

I stand between his satire and his praise:

Between praise and blame of him am I-

If my kindness reaches him, then either this or that.

If he shows goodness, I do or don't comply.