هَب لي جِنايَةً ما زَلَّت بِهِ القَدَمُ

هَب لي جِنايَةً ما زَلَّت بِهِ القَدَمُ

في العَفوِ تَطمَعُ ساداتُها الخَدَمُ

في العَفوِ تَطمَعُ ساداتُها الخَدَمُ

Forgive me the offense in which my foot slipped.

Grant me a transgression by which the foot has slipped,

Servants look to their masters for pardon.

The servants desire forgiveness in it.

حَسبُ المُسيءِ جَزاءً عَن لَمَساتِهِ

حَسبُ المُسيءِ جَزاءً عَن لَمَساتِهِ

فَرطُ النَدامَةِ إِذ لا يَنفَعُ النَدَمُ

فَرطُ النَدامَةِ إِذ لا يَنفَعُ النَدَمُ

For the wrongdoer, sufficient punishment for his touches

The recompense of the sinner is enough for his touch,

Is overwhelming remorse, when regret avails nothing.

Excess regret when regret does not benefit.

فَعَلتُ ما يَقتضيهِ السُخطُ مُقتَدِراً

فَعَلتُ ما يَقتضيهِ السُخطُ مُقتَدِراً

فَأَينَ ما يَقتَضيهِ الحِلمُ وَالكَرَمُ

فَأَينَ ما يَقتَضيهِ الحِلمُ وَالكَرَمُ

I did what wrath demands, possessed of power;

I have done what anger dictates, being able,

So where is what forbearance and generosity demand?

So where is what clemency and generosity dictate?

حاشا خَلائِقُكَ اللاتي مَحاسِنُها

حاشا خَلائِقُكَ اللاتي مَحاسِنُها

ما إِن يُكَدِّرُها بِالذَنبِ مُجتَرِمُ

ما إِن يُكَدِّرُها بِالذَنبِ مُجتَرِمُ

Far be it from your qualities, whose beauties

Far be it from your traits, which are beautiful,

No offender can sully with sin.

That a sinner would disturb them.

ما بَعدَ ما بِيَ مِن بُؤسٍ وَمَسكَنَةٍ

ما بَعدَ ما بِيَ مِن بُؤسٍ وَمَسكَنَةٍ

ضُرٌّ يَحارُ لَهُ الأَجراحُ وَالنَقَمُ

ضُرٌّ يَحارُ لَهُ الأَجراحُ وَالنَقَمُ

Beyond the misery and destitution I suffer,

After my misery and hardship, no harm

There is no affliction at which wounds and retribution stand bewildered.

Hurts me that bewilders wounds and grudges.

إِنّي لَأَعجَبُ مِن إِبطاءِ عَطفِكَ بي

إِنّي لَأَعجَبُ مِن إِبطاءِ عَطفِكَ بي

وَأَنتَ لي وَعَلَيَّ الخَصمُ وَالحِكَمُ

وَأَنتَ لي وَعَلَيَّ الخَصمُ وَالحِكَمُ

Indeed, I marvel at your compassion’s delay toward me,

I am amazed at the delay of your kindness towards me

While you, for me and against me, are the adversary and judge.

While you are towards me the adversary and the judge.

في ظِلِّ بابِكَ أَفنَيتُ الصِبا مَرَحاً

في ظِلِّ بابِكَ أَفنَيتُ الصِبا مَرَحاً

فَحاشَ لِلَهِ أَن تَشقي بِكَ الهَدمُ

فَحاشَ لِلَهِ أَن تَشقي بِكَ الهَدمُ

In the shade of your gate, I spent my youth in joy.

I spent my youth playing in the shade of your door,

So God forbid that ruin should suffer misery through you.

So it is shameful that you make me suffer destruction.

وَأَنتَ البَستَني الحُسني مُخَوَّلَةً

وَأَنتَ البَستَني الحُسني مُخَوَّلَةً

إِذا اِنقَضَت نِعَمٌ منها أَتَت نِعَمُ

إِذا اِنقَضَت نِعَمٌ منها أَتَت نِعَمُ

And you clothed me in goodness, bestowed as bounty;

You clothed me with beautiful traits,

Whenever blessings from it ended, more blessings came.

When bounties from it ceased, bounties came.

وَأَنتَ أَنبَتَّ عودي في رِياضٍ مِنّي

وَأَنتَ أَنبَتَّ عودي في رِياضٍ مِنّي

نَوّارُها بِثِمارِ الغَيدِ مُبتَسِمُ

نَوّارُها بِثِمارِ الغَيدِ مُبتَسِمُ

And you made my stem grow in gardens of mine,

You made me grow in gardens within me,

Their blossoms smiling with the fruits of graceful maidens.

Their blossoms smiling with ripe fruits.

فَإِن قَتَلتَ فَعَبدٌ أَنتَ مالِكُه

فَإِن قَتَلتَ فَعَبدٌ أَنتَ مالِكُه

وَإِن مَنَنتَ فَتِلكَ العادُ وَالشِيَمُ

وَإِن مَنَنتَ فَتِلكَ العادُ وَالشِيَمُ

So if you kill me, I am a slave whom you own;

So if you kill me, you are the master of your servant,

And if you show favor, such are your customs and character.

And if you bestow, such is the custom and propriety.