إِذاif لَمnot يَكُنthere is خَيرٌgood مَعَwith الشَرِّevil لَمnot تَجِدyou find
إِذا لَم يَكُن خَيرٌ مَعَ الشَرِّ لَم تَجِد
نَصيحاًa sincere adviser وَلاnor ذاone with حاجَةٍa need حينَwhen تَفزَعُyou are alarmed
نَصيحاً وَلا ذا حاجَةٍ حينَ تَفزَعُ
If there is no good alongside evil, you will not find
If no good comes with harm, you'll find
a sincere adviser, nor anyone in need, when you are alarmed.
No counselor, nor aid when you're distraught.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle هُمُthey هَمّواthey resolve بِإِحدىon one of هَناتِهِمtheir misdeeds
إِذا ما هُمُ هَمّوا بِإِحدى هَناتِهِم
حَسَرتُI bared لَهُمfor them رَأسيmy head فَلاso not أَتَقَنَّعُI veil myself
حَسَرتُ لَهُم رَأسي فَلا أَتَقَنَّعُ
When they resolve on one of their misdeeds,
When they're bent on one of their mad whims,
I bare my head for them and do not veil myself.
I shake my head - nothing can mollify.
Sol 6.1