ياO أمّmother of بشرBishr ثقيtrust باللّهin God واعترفيand acknowledge
يا أمّ بشر ثقي باللّه واعترفي
بالحقthe truth إنindeed قضاءdecree اللّهGod مبرومirrevocable
بالحق إن قضاء اللّه مبروم
O Umm Bishr, trust in God and acknowledge
O mother, have faith in God and confess
the truth: indeed, God's decree is irrevocable.
That God's decree is inevitable
وانعيand lament أباكyour father إذاwhen ماever (emphatic) قالsays مختبطa supplicant
وانعي أباك إذا ما قال مختبط
أينwhere الكرامthe noble men المطاعينthose obeyed المطاعيمthe generous providers of food
أين الكرام المطاعين المطاعيم
And lament your father whenever a supplicant asks,
Restrain your father when he speaks confused
"Where are the noble men, obeyed and generous with food?"
Where are the generous, obedient, nurtured
مثلlike السنانthe spearhead لطيفslender البطنthe belly لاnot مرحexultant
مثل السنان لطيف البطن لا مرح
إنif نالhe gains دنياworldly wealth ولاnor بالزادfor provisions منهومravenous
إن نال دنيا ولا بالزاد منهوم
Like a spearhead, slender of belly, not exultant
Like fangs, of delicate stomach, no jest
if he gains worldly wealth, nor ravenous for provisions.
If he gains the world but has no provisions
لاnot يسلمforsakes الجارthe neighbor والمولىand the ally لعثرتهfor his stumble
لا يسلم الجار والمولى لعثرته
ولاnor يسالمmakes peace وابنwhile the son of العمthe paternal uncle مظلومwronged
ولا يسالم وابن العم مظلوم
He does not forsake his neighbor or ally when either stumbles,
The neighbor and master won't pardon his stumble
nor does he make peace while his paternal cousin is wronged.
Nor the cousin when oppressed
Sol 6.1