شَرَيتُ الأُمورَ وَغالَيتُها

شَرَيتُ الأُمورَ وَغالَيتُها

فَأَولى لَكُم يا بَني الأَعرَجِ

فَأَولى لَكُم يا بَني الأَعرَجِ

I bought undertakings and paid dearly for them;

I took on affairs and paid a high price for them.

I juggled matters and overpriced them

I purchased great matters and raised their price,

so woe to you, O sons of al-A‘raj!

So woe to you, sons of al-A‘raj!

So it's best for you, O sons of Al-Araaj

So woe unto you, O sons of Al-Araj,

تَدِبّونَ حَولَ رِكِيّاتِكُم

تَدِبّونَ حَولَ رِكِيّاتِكُم

دَبيبَ القَنافِذِ في العَرفَجَ

دَبيبَ القَنافِذِ في العَرفَجَ

You creep around your wells

You creep around your wells,

You crawl around your queens

You creep around your water-wells,

as hedgehogs creep through the ʿarfaj scrub.

Like hedgehogs creeping among the ‘arfaj shrubs.

Like hedgehogs crawling in brushwood

Like the creeping of hedgehogs through the Arfaj.