أَبَت شَفَتايَ اليَومَ إِلّا تَكَلُّماً

أَبَت شَفَتايَ اليَومَ إِلّا تَكَلُّماً

بِشَرٍّ فَما أَدري لِمَن أَنا قائِلُه

بِشَرٍّ فَما أَدري لِمَن أَنا قائِلُه

Today my lips insist on speaking

My lips today refused all but to speak

ill, yet I do not know whom I shall speak ill of.

Of glad tidings, though who it’s for I do not know

أَرى لِيَ وَجهاً شَوَّهَ اللَهُ خَلقَهُ

أَرى لِيَ وَجهاً شَوَّهَ اللَهُ خَلقَهُ

فَقُبِّحَ مِن وَجهٍ وَقُبِّحَ حامِلُه

فَقُبِّحَ مِن وَجهٍ وَقُبِّحَ حامِلُه

I see a face of mine whose form God has disfigured;

I see a face, one marred by God in its making

so cursed be that face, and cursed be its bearer!

Ugly in visage, ugly in the one who bears it