إِذا اِعتَصَمَ الوالي بِإِغلاقِ بابِهِ

إِذا اِعتَصَمَ الوالي بِإِغلاقِ بابِهِ

وَرَدَّ ذَوي الحاجاتِ دونَ حجابِهِ

وَرَدَّ ذَوي الحاجاتِ دونَ حجابِهِ

When the governor takes refuge in shutting his door,

When the governor shuts his door

And turns those in need away outside his curtain,

And turns away those with needs before his veil

ظَنَنتُ بِهِ إِحدى ثَلاثَ وَرُبَّما

ظَنَنتُ بِهِ إِحدى ثَلاثَ وَرُبَّما

نَزَعتُ بِظَنّ واقِع بِصَوابِهِ

نَزَعتُ بِظَنّ واقِع بِصَوابِهِ

I suspect one of three things in him—and perhaps

I think him one of three, and perhaps

I have ventured a surmise that hits the mark.

I tear away the veil with a thought hitting the mark

فَقُلتُ بِهِ مَسٌّ مِنَ العيِّ ظاهِر

فَقُلتُ بِهِ مَسٌّ مِنَ العيِّ ظاهِر

فَفي إِذنِهِ لِلناسِ إِظهارُ ما بِهِ

فَفي إِذنِهِ لِلناسِ إِظهارُ ما بِهِ

So I say: he has an obvious touch of inarticulacy,

So I say he has an obvious affliction of the eye

For admitting people would reveal what ails him.

So in allowing people in, his affliction is revealed

فَإِن لَم يَكُن عيُّ اللِسانِ فَغالِب

فَإِن لَم يَكُن عيُّ اللِسانِ فَغالِب

مِنَ البُخلِ يَحمي مالَهُ عَن طِلابِهِ

مِنَ البُخلِ يَحمي مالَهُ عَن طِلابِهِ

But if it is not a faltering tongue, then overpowering

But if there is no affliction of his tongue, then most likely

Stinginess guards his wealth from those who seek it.

It is miserliness, guarding his money from seekers

فَإِن لَم يَكُن هَذا وَلا ذا فَريبَةٌ

فَإِن لَم يَكُن هَذا وَلا ذا فَريبَةٌ

يُصِرُّ عَلَيها عِندَ إِغلاقِ بابِهِ

يُصِرُّ عَلَيها عِندَ إِغلاقِ بابِهِ

And if it is neither this nor that, then it is some dubious deed

And if it is neither this nor that, then it is suspicion

He persists in when he shuts his door.

He stubbornly harbors when shutting his door