تخالهم صماً عن الجهل والخنا

تخالهم صماً عن الجهل والخنا

وخرساً عن الفحشاء عند التهاجر

وخرساً عن الفحشاء عند التهاجر

You would think them deaf to insolence and foul speech,

Imagine them deaf to ignorance and malice

And mute to indecency when people fall out,

And mute from obscenity when parting

ومرضى إذا لاقوا حياء وعفه

ومرضى إذا لاقوا حياء وعفه

وعند الحفاظ كالليوث الخوادر

وعند الحفاظ كالليوث الخوادر

And sickly when they meet others, from modesty and self-restraint;

And sick when meeting decency and chastity

Yet when defending honor, they are like lions in their lairs.

And guarding like ferocious lions

لهم ذل إنصافٍ وأنس تواضع

لهم ذل إنصافٍ وأنس تواضع

بهم ولهم ذلت وقاب المعاشر

بهم ولهم ذلت وقاب المعاشر

Theirs is the meekness of fairness and the warmth of humility;

They have the humility of fairness and geniality

By them, and before them, the fools of the communities are humbled.

Through them and for them gentleness tames socializing

كأن بهم وصماً يخافون عاره

كأن بهم وصماً يخافون عاره

وما وصمهم إلا اتقاء المعاير

وما وصمهم إلا اتقاء المعاير

As though they bear a blemish whose disgrace they fear,

As if they have a stigma they fear disgrace

Yet their only blemish is guarding against reproach.

And nothing stigmatized them but avoiding blame