أَعَصَيتَ أَمرَ ذَوي النُهى

أَعَصَيتَ أَمرَ ذَوي النُهى

وَأَطَعتَ أَمرَ ذَوي الجَهالَه

وَأَطَعتَ أَمرَ ذَوي الجَهالَه

Have you disobeyed the command of the wise

You disobeyed the command of those who forbid

and obeyed the command of the ignorant?

And obeyed the command of the ignorant

فاحتَلتَ حينَ صَرَمتَني

فاحتَلتَ حينَ صَرَمتَني

وَالمَرءُ يَعجِزُ لا المَحالَه

وَالمَرءُ يَعجِزُ لا المَحالَه

So you devised a stratagem when you broke with me;

So you wronged me when you turned away

and it is man who fails, not ingenuity.

And one is helpless, without a doubt

وَالعَبدُ يُضرَبُ بِالعَصا

وَالعَبدُ يُضرَبُ بِالعَصا

وَالحُرُّ تَكفيهِ المَقالَه

وَالحُرُّ تَكفيهِ المَقالَه

A slave is beaten with a stick,

While a slave is struck with a stick

and a free man needs only a word.

A free man needs only a word