هل القول إن أطنبتُ في القول نافعٌ

هل القول إن أطنبتُ في القول نافعٌ

لديكَ وهل لي من ضميرك شافعُ

لديكَ وهل لي من ضميرك شافعُ

Is speech, if I speak at length, of any use

Is prolonged speech useful to you, and is there in your conscience an intercessor for me?

with you? And have I an intercessor in your heart?

And are you a guardian of what was between us, rewarding good deeds, or is it lost?

وهل أنتَ راعِ للَذي كان بَيْنَنا

وهل أنتَ راعِ للَذي كان بَيْنَنا

وجازيّه الإحسانُ أم هو ضائع

وجازيّه الإحسانُ أم هو ضائع

And will you cherish what once was between us,

If I soil my cheek with tears of sadness, is it effective pleading? And is the pact of contentment with you returnable?

and will kindness requite it, or is it lost?

I swore a sincere oath and coupled it: Are you satisfied with my two oaths?

وهل أنا إن عَفَّرتُ خدِّي بعبرةِ

وهل أنا إن عَفَّرتُ خدِّي بعبرةِ

مُقالٌ وهل عَهْدُ الرضى منك راجعُ

مُقالٌ وهل عَهْدُ الرضى منك راجعُ

And will I, if I soil my cheek with a tear,

The slanderer disturbed an ancient harmony with his easiest efforts; the discordant events missed it.

be pardoned? And will the days of your favor return?

So he worried me in his weakness, while he is downcast, and scattered the dear ones from my eyes while he stirs up trouble.

حَلَفْتُ يميناً بَرًّةً وشَفَعْتُها

حَلَفْتُ يميناً بَرًّةً وشَفَعْتُها

فهل أنت منّي باليمينين قانعُ

فهل أنت منّي باليمينين قانعُ

I swore a sincere oath and added another to it;

If I have an excuse that justifies acceptance, and if excuses narrow for me, then pardon is ample.

will you then be satisfied with these two oaths from me?

I will wear a garment of humility and submissiveness, and one remorseful and pleading will come to you.

لقد قَرعَ الواشي بأهونِ سَعْيه

لقد قَرعَ الواشي بأهونِ سَعْيه

صفاةً قديماً أخطأتها القوارعُ

صفاةً قديماً أخطأتها القوارعُ

The slanderer, with the slightest of his efforts, has struck

a smooth rock that calamity's blows had long missed.

فأقْلَقَنِي في ضَعفِه وهو خافضٌ

فأقْلَقَنِي في ضَعفِه وهو خافضٌ

وشَرَّدَ عن عيني الكرى وهو هاجعُ

وشَرَّدَ عن عيني الكرى وهو هاجعُ

So he troubled me, weak though he was, while he was at ease,

and drove sleep from my eye while he slumbered.

فإن كان لي عُذْرٌ يَصحُّ قبلتَهُ

فإن كان لي عُذْرٌ يَصحُّ قبلتَهُ

وأن ضاق عني العُذرُ فالعفوُ واسِعُ

وأن ضاق عني العُذرُ فالعفوُ واسِعُ

So if I have a sound excuse, you will accept it;

and if my excuse falls short, forgiveness is ample.

سأَلْبَسُ ثَوْبَي ذِلَّةٍ واستكانَةٍ

سأَلْبَسُ ثَوْبَي ذِلَّةٍ واستكانَةٍ

ويأتيك منّي كاسفُ البال ضارعُ

ويأتيك منّي كاسفُ البال ضارعُ

I shall don the two garments of abasement and submission,

and I shall come to you, downcast in spirit and humbly pleading.