يا أيها القاضي السني الذكر

يا أيها القاضي السني الذكر

ومن علا على قضاة العمر

ومن علا على قضاة العمر

O judge of radiant renown,

O judge of illustrious renown,

you who have risen above the judges of the age,

And you who have risen above the judges of the age,

قد اجتمعنا في محل وعر

قد اجتمعنا في محل وعر

ومنزل ضنك ومثوى قمر

ومنزل ضنك ومثوى قمر

we have gathered in a rugged place,

We have indeed gathered in a rugged place,

a cramped dwelling and a moonlit resting place,

And a cramped dwelling and a damp abode,

خال من الخير كثير الشر

خال من الخير كثير الشر

نلقى زماني ألم وضر

نلقى زماني ألم وضر

empty of good and abounding in evil.

Devoid of good, abounding in evil.

We suffer two seasons of pain and distress:

We endure two periods of pain and harm:

من ليل بق ونهار حر

من ليل بق ونهار حر

فقد فقدت جلدي وصبري

فقد فقدت جلدي وصبري

a night of mosquitoes and a scorching day.

A night of bedbugs and a day of heat.

I have therefore lost my fortitude and patience,

For I have lost my fortitude and my patience,

وليس لي عند مجيء فكري

وليس لي عند مجيء فكري

سوى تشكي فادحات أمري

سوى تشكي فادحات أمري

and when my thoughts come, I have nothing

And when my thoughts come, I have nothing

but to lament the crushing afflictions of my plight

But complaints about the crushing troubles of my plight,

بقلم يحطها في سطر

بقلم يحطها في سطر

إلى فتى ذي أدب وقدر

إلى فتى ذي أدب وقدر

with a pen that sets them down in a line,

With a pen that sets them down in a line

addressed to a young man of refinement and rank.

To a young man of learning and standing.

فاسمع لكشواي وحبد بعذر

فاسمع لكشواي وحبد بعذر

قد صفرت محبرتي من حبر

قد صفرت محبرتي من حبر

So hear my complaint, and kindly excuse me.

So hear my complaint and graciously excuse me [uncertain wording].

My inkwell has run entirely dry of ink,

My inkwell has indeed run out of ink,

ولم أجده مشترى فأشري

ولم أجده مشترى فأشري

فجد حباك الله طول عمر

فجد حباك الله طول عمر

and I found none for sale that I might buy.

And I have found none for sale to buy.

So grant me some—may God grant you long life—

So be generous—may God grant you a long life—

بمثلها حبرا وفر بشكري

بمثلها حبرا وفر بشكري

من بين نظم حسن ونشر

من بين نظم حسن ونشر

as much ink as this, and reap my thanks abundantly

With a like measure of ink, and prosper through my thanks,

in both fine verse and prose.

In fine verse and prose.

ورب مجد باسق وفخر

ورب مجد باسق وفخر

نالهما الحر ببذل النزر

نالهما الحر ببذل النزر

Many a lofty glory and source of pride

And often towering glory and honor

has a noble man attained by giving but little.

Have been won by a noble man through giving little.