ما كُنتَ في إِحدى الشَدائِدِ مُرتَجى

ما كُنتَ في إِحدى الشَدائِدِ مُرتَجى

إِلّا رَأَينا بابَ جودِكَ مُرتَجا

إِلّا رَأَينا بابَ جودِكَ مُرتَجا

Never were you looked to with hope in any hardship

You were never called upon in times of distress,

but we saw the door of your generosity shut.

Except we found the door of your generosity ajar.

وَكَذاكَ ما نُسِبَت إِلَيكَ رَذيلَةٌ

وَكَذاكَ ما نُسِبَت إِلَيكَ رَذيلَةٌ

إِلّا مُدِحتَ بِها وَكانَ لَها الهِجا

إِلّا مُدِحتَ بِها وَكانَ لَها الهِجا

And likewise, no vice was attributed to you

And likewise, no vice was ever attributed to you,

but you were praised for it, and the ridicule fell upon it.

Except you were praised for it, as it deserved acclaim.

ما كُنتَ في إِحدى الشَدائِدِ مُرتَجى

ما كُنتَ في إِحدى الشَدائِدِ مُرتَجى

إِلّا رَأَينا بابَ عُذرِكَ مُرتَجا

إِلّا رَأَينا بابَ عُذرِكَ مُرتَجا

Never were you looked to with hope in any hardship

You were never called upon in times of distress,

but we saw the door of your excuse shut.

Except we found the door of your excuse ajar.

وَكَذاكَ ما نُسِبَت إِلَيكَ فَضيلَةٌ

وَكَذاكَ ما نُسِبَت إِلَيكَ فَضيلَةٌ

إِلّا وَقَد مُدِحَت وَكانَ لَكَ الهِجا

إِلّا وَقَد مُدِحَت وَكانَ لَكَ الهِجا

And likewise, no virtue was attributed to you

And likewise, no virtue was ever attributed to you,

but it was indeed praised, and the ridicule fell upon you.

Except it was praised, as you deserved acclaim.