فَعَتْبي له عَتْبُ البريء وخِيفَتي

فَعَتْبي له عَتْبُ البريء وخِيفَتي

لحِرصي على عُتْباه خِيفَةُ جانِ

لحِرصي على عُتْباه خِيفَةُ جانِ

My reproach of him is an innocent man’s reproach, while my fear—

So my reproach to him is an innocent man's reproach, and my fear,

so eager am I for his favor restored—is an offender’s fear.

In my eagerness to appease him, is a guilty man's fear.

فإنْ يكُ لي ذَنبٌ فأينَ وَسائلي

فإنْ يكُ لي ذَنبٌ فأينَ وَسائلي

وإن لم يكن ذَنبٌ ففيمَ جَفاني

وإن لم يكن ذَنبٌ ففيمَ جَفاني

If I have some fault, where are my accuser and my questioner?

So if I am at fault, where are my means of appeal?

And if there is no fault, why then has he shunned me?

And if there is no fault, then why has he shunned me?