أعليَّ ترجف بالوعيد وتوجف

أعليَّ ترجف بالوعيد وتوجف

وتروم أمراً أنت عنه تضعف

وتروم أمراً أنت عنه تضعف

Is it at me that you bluster with threats and rush headlong,

You threaten me and bark furiously,

and seek something you are too weak to attain?

Seeking something you are too weak to accomplish.

عاتبتني في شيء والدوا

عاتبتني في شيء والدوا

استعماله في غير داء متلف

استعماله في غير داء متلف

You reproached me over something; yet medicine—

You blamed me for something harmless,

its use where there is no illness is deadly.

Using it wrongly like an inept physician.

ضمنت طرسك أحرفا قد جردت

ضمنت طرسك أحرفا قد جردت

فيها وفيك تعسف وتعجرف

فيها وفيك تعسف وتعجرف

You filled your page with letters you had stripped bare;

You composed your message with detached letters,

in them, and in you, are high-handedness and arrogance.

Showing arrogance and insolence towards me.

ماكنت أهلاً أن أقابل بالجفا

ماكنت أهلاً أن أقابل بالجفا

لو كنت يا مغرور ممن ينصف

لو كنت يا مغرور ممن ينصف

I did not deserve to be met with harshness,

I was not inclined to reciprocate your coldness,

had you, O conceited one, been among the fair-minded.

Had you not been arrogant, O unfair one.

لما منحتك فوق ما تعتاد من

لما منحتك فوق ما تعتاد من

غيري وجاء إليك مالا تألف

غيري وجاء إليك مالا تألف

When I gave you more than you were used to receiving from

I gave you more than what others usually give you,

anyone else, and what you were unused to came to you,

Things you are not accustomed to receiving from others.

جازيتني هذا الجزاء وإنما

جازيتني هذا الجزاء وإنما

أصل الفتى نفعا به قد يعرف

أصل الفتى نفعا به قد يعرف

you repaid me with this recompense; yet only

Yet you rewarded me with this,

through a kindness may a young man's true nature be known.

Though a man's origin can be known through his generosity.

قد كدت لولا الحلم راجع صولتي

قد كدت لولا الحلم راجع صولتي

أجزيك والخلق الكريمة تعطف

أجزيك والخلق الكريمة تعطف

I nearly—had forbearance not checked my onslaught—

Had it not been for my forbearance, I would have returned my assault,

repaid you; but noble traits incline to compassion.

And repaid you, though the noble act with kindness.

فصفحت عنك ولست أول جاحد

فصفحت عنك ولست أول جاحد

فضلا بكفران الصنيعة توصف

فضلا بكفران الصنيعة توصف

So I pardoned you; you are not the first to deny

But I forgave you, and I'm not the first one,

a favor; you are described as ungrateful for a good turn.

Whose good deed was rewarded with ingratitude.