إِذا كانَ مالي مالَ مَن يَلقُطُ العَجَم

إِذا كانَ مالي مالَ مَن يَلقُطُ العَجَم

وَحالِيَ فيكُم حالَ مَن حاكَ أَو حَجَم

وَحالِيَ فيكُم حالَ مَن حاكَ أَو حَجَم

If my wealth is the wealth of one who scavenges date pits,

If my wealth is that of one who gathers date pits,

and my lot among you is that of a weaver or a cupper,

and my standing among you is that of a weaver or a practitioner of cupping,

فَأَينَ اِنتِفاعي بِالأَصالَةِ وَالحِجى

فَأَينَ اِنتِفاعي بِالأَصالَةِ وَالحِجى

وَما رَبِحَت كَفّي مِنَ العِلمِ وَالحِكَم

وَما رَبِحَت كَفّي مِنَ العِلمِ وَالحِكَم

then where is my profit from noble birth and intellect,

then what benefit do I gain from nobility and intellect,

and what has my hand gained from learning and wisdom?

and what has my hand gained from knowledge and wisdom?

وَمَن ذا الَّذي في الناسِ يُبصِرُ حالَتي

وَمَن ذا الَّذي في الناسِ يُبصِرُ حالَتي

فَلا يَلعَنُ القِرطاسَ وَالحِبرَ وَالقَلَم

فَلا يَلعَنُ القِرطاسَ وَالحِبرَ وَالقَلَم

Who is there among men who sees my plight

And who among people sees my plight

and does not curse paper, ink, and pen?

and does not curse the paper, the ink, and the pen?