أَسَفيmy sorrow! كيفَhow كنتُI was أطلبُI seek عزاًhonor
أَسَفي كيفَ كنتُ أطلبُ عزاً
بالولاياتِthrough official posts وَهْيَwhile they are عَيْنُthe very essence of الهوانِhumiliation
بالولاياتِ وَهْيَ عَيْنُ الهوانِ
Alas, how I used to seek honor
How I regret seeking honor
through official posts, though they are humiliation itself.
Through ruling over states, the essence of disgrace,
كنتُI was لاnot أعرفُI know الخمولَobscurity لجهليbecause of my ignorance
كنتُ لا أعرفُ الخمولَ لجهلي
ليتنيif only I كنتُI had been خاملاًobscure منْsince زمانِlong ago
ليتني كنتُ خاملاً منْ زمانِ
In my ignorance, I did not know obscurity.
I did not know indolence due to my ignorance,
If only I had been obscure long ago.
If only I had been idle long ago
Sol 6.1