اكثرmost; the majority of خلقthe creatures; creation اللهof God منthose who; whoever لاdoes not يدريknows; can tell
اكثر خلق الله من لا يدري
منfrom; belonging to أيwhich; what sort of خلقkind of creature; creation اللَهof God حينwhen يلقىhe meets someone
من أي خلق اللَه حين يلقى
Most of God’s creatures are those who cannot tell,
when they meet someone, what sort of creature of God he is.
وحلةand a fine robe تنشرis unfolded and spread out ثمthen تضوىbecomes worn and threadbare
وحلة تنشر ثم تضوى
وطيلسانand a ṭaylasān, a draped mantle يشترىis bought فيغلىand so rises in price
وطيلسان يشترى فيغلى
And a robe is unfolded, then wears threadbare;
and a ṭaylasān mantle is bought, and its price soars,
لعبدfor the slave of عبدa slave اوor لمولىfor the client of مولىa client or dependent
لعبد عبد او لمولى مولى
ياO; alas ويحwoe to; alas for بيتthe house or repository المالof public wealth; the treasury ماذاwhat; what a thing يلقىit encounters and must endure
يا ويح بيت المال ماذا يلقى
for the slave of a slave, or the client of a client.
Alas for the public treasury—what it must endure!