عَصيتُ الناسَ في عَودٍ وَبِدءٍ

عَصيتُ الناسَ في عَودٍ وَبِدءٍ

وَعِصياني لَهُم في زَيِّ طاعَه

وَعِصياني لَهُم في زَيِّ طاعَه

I defied the people at every return and fresh beginning;

I have defied people, time and again,

yet disobeying them concerning Zayd is obedience.

And my defiance of them wears the guise of obedience.

أَداريهُم مَخافَةَ أَن تَراني

أَداريهُم مَخافَةَ أَن تَراني

وَعِرضي عُرضَةً لِذَوي الزَماعَه

وَعِرضي عُرضَةً لِذَوي الزَماعَه

I humor them, fearing that you might see me

I placate them for fear that you might see me

with my honor made a target for the crowd’s arrows.

With my honor a target for men of bold resolve.