غُرِرْتُ بما أَظهرتموه وليس لي

غُرِرْتُ بما أَظهرتموه وليس لي

بدائكمُ تحت الأضالعِ من عِلْمِ

بدائكمُ تحت الأضالعِ من عِلْمِ

I was deceived by what you showed, and had no

I was deceived by what you outwardly displayed, while I had no knowledge of your hidden intentions within your chests.

knowledge of your ailment beneath your ribs.

I never feared that I had committed a sin, which would confine my breadth or my patience.

وما كنتُ أخشى أنّ ذنباً جنيتُمُ

وما كنتُ أخشى أنّ ذنباً جنيتُمُ

يَضيقُ به ذَرْعي مَدا الدّهرِ أوْ حِلْمِي

يَضيقُ به ذَرْعي مَدا الدّهرِ أوْ حِلْمِي

Nor did I fear that a wrong you committed

Nor that I was lulled into false security, and addressed by one in whom I confided with my words.

would ever overwhelm my endurance or my forbearance.

How strange that arrows should strike me from a people above whom I raised my arrows!

ولا أَنّنِي أُدْهى منَ الأمنِ غافلاً

ولا أَنّنِي أُدْهى منَ الأمنِ غافلاً

ويَكلِمُنِي من كنتُ آسو به كَلْمِي

ويَكلِمُنِي من كنتُ آسو به كَلْمِي

Nor that calamity would strike me, unsuspecting in my safety,

Though each day and night I fulfil my pledge, I am brought closer to breaking it and cast my arrows in vain.

and one through whom I healed my wound would wound me.

So feed not on oppressing me, for I am far from the hand of oppression when you attempt it.

ومن عَجَبٍ أنّ السّهامَ تصيبني

ومن عَجَبٍ أنّ السّهامَ تصيبني

من القوم ما فَوَّقْتُ نحْوهُمُ سهمي

من القوم ما فَوَّقْتُ نحْوهُمُ سهمي

And it is strange that arrows strike me

Seek not war against me, for those who seek war against a man while he holds peace are stupid.

from people against whom I never nocked my arrow.

And if after this I am still deceived by you, accept not my excuse nor forgive my crime,

وَإنِّيَ أَقضي كلَّ يومٍ وليلةٍ

وَإنِّيَ أَقضي كلَّ يومٍ وليلةٍ

فَأقربُ إبْقاءً وأُرمى فلا أَرمِي

فَأقربُ إبْقاءً وأُرمى فلا أَرمِي

And I spend each day and night

For only the appointed time made the wolf bare its fangs at me, and made you my portion perforce.

drawing near in mercy, shot at yet never shooting back.

فلا تطعموا أنْ تظلموني فإنْني

فلا تطعموا أنْ تظلموني فإنْني

بعيدٌ متى حاولتُمُ عن يد الظلْمِ

بعيدٌ متى حاولتُمُ عن يد الظلْمِ

So do not relish wronging me, for I am

beyond the reach of oppression’s hand whenever you try.

فلا تطلبوا حربي فإنّ غَبِينَةً

فلا تطلبوا حربي فإنّ غَبِينَةً

طِلابُ اِمرئٍ حربي وفي كفِّهِ سِلْمِي

طِلابُ اِمرئٍ حربي وفي كفِّهِ سِلْمِي

So do not seek war with me, for it is a losing bargain

for a man to seek war with me while peace with me lies in his palm.

وَإنْ كنتُ مغروراً بكمْ بعد هذه

وَإنْ كنتُ مغروراً بكمْ بعد هذه

فلا تقبلوا عذري ولا تغفروا جُرمي

فلا تقبلوا عذري ولا تغفروا جُرمي

And if I am deceived by you after this,

then do not accept my excuse or forgive my offense.

وَما الذّئبُ إلّا لِلزّمان الّذي رمى

وَما الذّئبُ إلّا لِلزّمان الّذي رمى

صَميمي بكمْ كُرْهاً وصيَّركُمْ قِسْمِي

صَميمي بكمْ كُرْهاً وصيَّركُمْ قِسْمِي

And the wolf belongs only to time, which struck

my very core with you against my will, and made you my lot.