وَمُحتَجِبٌ وَالناسُ لا يُعرِفونَهُ

وَمُحتَجِبٌ وَالناسُ لا يُعرِفونَهُ

وَقَد ماتَ هَزلاً مِن وَرا البابِ حاجِبُه

وَقَد ماتَ هَزلاً مِن وَرا البابِ حاجِبُه

And a man keeps himself secluded, though people do not know him.

He is veiled from sight, and the people know him not,

And his doorkeeper has already died of emaciation behind the door.

While his doorman has died of wasting away behind the door.

إِذا قيلَ مِن ذا مُقبِلاً قيلَ لا أَحَد

إِذا قيلَ مِن ذا مُقبِلاً قيلَ لا أَحَد

وَإِن قيلَ مِن ذا خَلفه قيلَ كاتِبُه

وَإِن قيلَ مِن ذا خَلفه قيلَ كاتِبُه

When someone asks, 'Who is this approaching?' the answer is, 'No one.'

If asked, "Who is approaching?" the answer is, "No one,"

And if someone asks, 'Who is this behind him?' the answer is, 'His scribe.'

And if asked, "Who is behind him?" they say, "His scribe."