إِذاif كانَis ماليmy wealth مالَthe wealth of مَنone who يَلقُطُgathers العَجَمfruit stones
إِذا كانَ مالي مالَ مَن يَلقُطُ العَجَم
وَحالِيَand my standing فيكُمamong you حالَthe standing of مَنone who حاكَwove أَوor حَجَمpracticed cupping
وَحالِيَ فيكُم حالَ مَن حاكَ أَو حَجَم
If my wealth is that of one who gathers fruit stones,
If my money is like money picked up by strangers,
and my standing among you is that of a weaver or a cupper,
And my status among you is like that of a weaver or cobbler,
فَأَينَthen where اِنتِفاعيmy benefit بِالأَصالَةِfrom nobility وَالحِجىand intellect
فَأَينَ اِنتِفاعي بِالأَصالَةِ وَالحِجى
وَماand what رَبِحَتgained كَفّيmy hand مِنَfrom العِلمِknowledge وَالحِكَمand wise sayings
وَما رَبِحَت كَفّي مِنَ العِلمِ وَالحِكَم
then where is my gain from nobility and intellect,
Where then is the benefit of my ancestry and prestige?
and what has my hand gained from knowledge and wisdom?
What have my hands earned from knowledge and wisdom?
وَمَنand who ذاthis one الَّذيwho فيamong الناسِpeople يُبصِرُsees حالَتيmy plight
وَمَن ذا الَّذي في الناسِ يُبصِرُ حالَتي
فَلاthen not يَلعَنُcurses القِرطاسَthe paper وَالحِبرَand the ink وَالقَلَمand the pen
فَلا يَلعَنُ القِرطاسَ وَالحِبرَ وَالقَلَم
And who among people sees my plight
Who among the people can see my state,
without cursing the paper, the ink, and the pen?
And not curse the paper, the ink and the pen?
Sol 6.1