لقد وافيتُ بابكَ مستغيثاً

لقد وافيتُ بابكَ مستغيثاً

فلم تصرف بسطوتك الصروف

فلم تصرف بسطوتك الصروف

Indeed, I came to your door seeking help,

I have come to your door crying for help

Yet your might did not ward off fortune’s reversals.

Yet you did not turn away misfortunes with your power

ولم أطمع بربعك في نعيمٍ

ولم أطمع بربعك في نعيمٍ

وقد شقيتْ بساحته الضيوف

وقد شقيتْ بساحته الضيوف

Nor did I hope for comfort in your abode,

And I did not hope for a piece of your blessing in paradise

While guests have suffered in its courtyard.

While guests suffered in its court

ولكن الضرورة ألجأتني

ولكن الضرورة ألجأتني

وقد تعنوا لمرويها السيوف

وقد تعنوا لمرويها السيوف

But necessity compelled me,

But necessity drove me

And even swords may bow to the one who quenches their thirst.

And swords were drawn for its watering place

فلا تفخر بأنك ربُّ قصد

فلا تفخر بأنك ربُّ قصد

فما من رفعة يؤتى الكنيف

فما من رفعة يؤتى الكنيف

So do not boast that you are a lord whom people seek,

So do not pride yourself on being a sought-after lord

For a privy is not visited for its high rank.

For no glory is given to the lowly