أَلاdo you not تَرَينَyou see (feminine) وَقَدthough already قَطَّعتِنيyou have torn me apart قِطَعاًinto pieces
أَلا تَرَينَ وَقَد قَطَّعتِني قِطَعاً
ماذاwhat مِنَof الفَوتِdisparity بَينَbetween البُخلِstinginess وَالجودِand generosity
ماذا مِنَ الفَوتِ بَينَ البُخلِ وَالجودِ
Do you not see, though you have torn me to pieces,
Oh! Don't you see how you've cut me up in pieces
what difference there is between stinginess and generosity?
What loss is there between stinginess and generosity?
إِلّاif not يَكُنthere is وَرَقٌsilver money يَوماًone day أُراحُI am relieved بِهِby it
إِلّا يَكُن وَرَقٌ يَوماً أُراحُ بِهِ
لِلخابِطينَfor branch-beaters (supplicants) فَإِنّيthen indeed I am لَيِّنُpliant العودِthe bough
لِلخابِطينَ فَإِنّي لَيِّنُ العودِ
If one day there is no silver to bring me relief,
Except there be leaves one day I rest on
for those who beat the branches, I am still a pliant bough.
For those who ply their axe, as I'm pliant wood
لاnot يعدمlack السائلونthose who ask الخيرthe good أفعلهI do it
لا يعدم السائلون الخير أفعله
إماeither نوالاa gift وإماor else حسنgraciousness مردودِof reply
إما نوالا وإما حسن مردودِ
Those who ask never lack the good I do:
The beggars never lack in good from me
either a gift or a gracious reply.
Either direct giving or a kindly word
Sol 6.1