أَبلِغ أَبا الرَيّانِ مِن عاتِبِ

أَبلِغ أَبا الرَيّانِ مِن عاتِبِ

حُجَّتُهُ في عَتَبِهِ بالِغَه

حُجَّتُهُ في عَتَبِهِ بالِغَه

Convey to Abu al-Rayyan a message from one who reproaches him,

Convey to Abul-Rayyan from the reproacher

whose grounds for reproach are compelling.

That his argument in his reproach is clear

وَقُل لَهُ يا مَن ثِيابُ الحِجى

وَقُل لَهُ يا مَن ثِيابُ الحِجى

عَليهِ مِن دونِ الوَرى سابِغَه

عَليهِ مِن دونِ الوَرى سابِغَه

And say to him: O you whose robes of wisdom

And say to him, O you whose robes of pilgrimage

enfold you fully, alone among humankind,

Are perfect among people

مَلَأتُ فيكَ الأَرضَ مَدحاً فَما

مَلَأتُ فيكَ الأَرضَ مَدحاً فَما

بالُ يَدي مِن أَمَلي فارِغَه

بالُ يَدي مِن أَمَلي فارِغَه

I have filled the earth with praise of you—so why

I have filled the earth with praise of you, yet

is my hand empty of what I hope for?

My hands are still empty of hope

وَما لِحَظّي يَومُهُ مُظلِمٌ

وَما لِحَظّي يَومُهُ مُظلِمٌ

مِنكَ وَفَضلي شَمسُهُ بازِغَه

مِنكَ وَفَضلي شَمسُهُ بازِغَه

And why is my fortune's day dark

And my day is not gloomy from you

because of you, while my merit's sun is rising?

While my excellence is a rising sun

فَاِمنَع ذِيابَ الهَجوِ بِالجودِ أَن

فَاِمنَع ذِيابَ الهَجوِ بِالجودِ أَن

تُصبِحَ في أَعراضِكُم والِغَه

تُصبِحَ في أَعراضِكُم والِغَه

So, through generosity, prevent the wolves of satire from

So prevent the garments of blame with generosity

coming to lap at your honor.

Lest they attack your honor and prevail