ماذا أَقولُ إِذا اِنصَرَفتُ وَقيلَ لي

ماذا أَقولُ إِذا اِنصَرَفتُ وَقيلَ لي

لا بُدَّ مُخبِرُهُم وَإِن لَم أَسأَلِ

لا بُدَّ مُخبِرُهُم وَإِن لَم أَسأَلِ

What shall I say when I depart and am asked?

What can I say when I leave and I am asked

I must tell them, even if I am not asked.

I must inform them even if I am not asked

إِن قُلتُ أَعطاني كَذَبتُ وَإِن أَقُل

إِن قُلتُ أَعطاني كَذَبتُ وَإِن أَقُل

ضَنَّ الجَوادُ بِمالِهِ لَم يَجمُلِ

ضَنَّ الجَوادُ بِمالِهِ لَم يَجمُلِ

If I say, 'He gave me something,' I lie; and if I say,

If I say he gave me, I would lie and if I say

'The generous man was stingy with his wealth,' that would be unseemly.

The generous one dislikes his money not being good

وَلَأَنتَ أَعلَمُ بِالمَكارِمِ وَالعُلا

وَلَأَنتَ أَعلَمُ بِالمَكارِمِ وَالعُلا

مِن أَن أَقولَ فَعَلتَ ما لَم تَفعَلِ

مِن أَن أَقولَ فَعَلتَ ما لَم تَفعَلِ

And surely you know noble deeds and lofty honor too well

And you know best about generosity and nobility

For me to say you did what you have not done.

More than I say you did what you did not do

فَاِختَر لِنَفسِكَ ما أَقولُ فَإِنَّني

فَاِختَر لِنَفسِكَ ما أَقولُ فَإِنَّني

لا بُدَّ مُخبِرُهُم وَإِن لَم أَسأَلِ

لا بُدَّ مُخبِرُهُم وَإِن لَم أَسأَلِ

So choose for yourself what I shall say, for I

So choose for yourself what I say for I

Must tell them, even if I am not asked.

Must inform them even if I am not asked