قدindeed قُلْتُI said لَّماwhen أنْthat سمِعْتُI heard بقُتْرَةٍof hardship
قد قُلْتُ لَّما أنْ سمِعْتُ بقُتْرَةٍ
عَرَغَتْbefell (apparent misspelling) لِحُرٍّto a noble man أَصطفِيهِI choose him فَقيهِa jurist
عَرَغَتْ لِحُرٍّ أَصطفِيهِ فَقيهِ
I said, when I heard of hardship
That had befallen a noble jurist whom I cherish:
ياO مُهْجَتيmy life-blood إنْif كُنتِyou were واقِيةًa protector of فَتىًa young man
يا مُهْجَتي إنْ كُنتِ واقِيةً فَتىً
لفضائلٍfor virtues مَلأhe filled القُلوبَthe hearts فَقيهِthen protect him
لفضائلٍ مَلأ القُلوبَ فَقيهِ
O my life-blood, if you would shield a young man
For virtues with which he has filled hearts, then shield him.
ياO كَريماًgenerous one تهوىare drawn القُلوبُthe hearts إلَيهِtoward him
يا كَريماً تهوى القُلوبُ إلَيهِ
إذْsince لَهاfor them عندَهُwith him مَقَرُّa resting place ومَهْوىand a place to alight
إذْ لَها عندَهُ مَقَرُّ ومَهْوى
O generous man toward whom hearts are drawn,
Since with him they have a resting place and a haven,
أوْصِinstruct دّهريmy fate بِحفظِto safeguard نَفسيmyself وأهليand my family
أوْصِ دّهري بِحفظِ نَفسي وأهلي
فهوfor it is عَبْدٌa slave لِماto what تُحِبُّyou love وتَهْوىand you desire
فهو عَبْدٌ لِما تُحِبُّ وتَهْوى
Bid my fate safeguard me and my family,
For it is a slave to whatever you love and desire.
Sol 6.1