لاnot أحبُّI love الرئيسthe chief ذاpossessing العزِّmight يُضْحيbecomes
لا أحبُّ الرئيس ذا العزِّ يُضْحي
جارُهhis neighbor والرجالwhile the men مستعبِدوهُthose enslaving him
جارُه والرجال مستعبِدوهُ
I do not love the mighty chief whose neighbor passes the day
I do not love the mighty chief whose neighbor becomes
while the men hold him enslaved,
enslaved by men,
حاملٌbearing مِنَّةًa debt of gratitude لهمto them إنif كَفوهُthey spare him
حاملٌ مِنَّةً لهم إن كَفوهُ
شرَّهمْtheir harm داخِرٌabject إنif اضطهدوهُthey oppress him
شرَّهمْ داخِرٌ إن اضطهدوهُ
feeling indebted to them if they spare him
beholden to them if they spare him
the chief’s harm, and abject if they oppress him—
their harm, abject if they oppress him,
كاليتيمlike the orphan الممسّحِthe one being stroked الرأسthe head إنif شاwished (first part)
كاليتيم الممسّحِ الرأس إن شا
ءcompletion of 'wished' ذووthose engaged in مسْحِstroking رأسِهِhis head قَفَدوهُthey slapped his nape
ء ذوو مسْحِ رأسِهِ قَفَدوهُ
like an orphan whose head is stroked: if they wish,
like the orphan whose head is stroked: if they wish,
those who stroke his head strike him on the nape.
those who stroke his head slap him on the nape.
