تخلفت يوماً بعد جهد وشقة

تخلفت يوماً بعد جهد وشقة

فقالوا تخلى الدائب المتجلدُ

فقالوا تخلى الدائب المتجلدُ

I stayed away one day after toil and hardship;

I once lagged behind out of hardship and torment,

So they said, "The tireless, steadfast man has given up."

So they said the diligent one has given up.

أولئك عذالي أبوا ليَ راحة

أولئك عذالي أبوا ليَ راحة

وقد علموا أني الأمين المهدد

وقد علموا أني الأمين المهدد

Those reproachers of mine denied me rest,

Those were my enemies who denied me rest,

Though they knew I was the trusted one under threat.

Though they knew I was the honest one under threat.

وما كان من قومي وهم يدفعونني

وما كان من قومي وهم يدفعونني

إلى أجلي إلا الصياح المردد

إلى أجلي إلا الصياح المردد

And nothing came from my people, as they drove me

And my people did nothing but push me

Toward my death, but repeated shouting.

Towards my demise with their endless yelling.

وهم زحزحوني عن مكانيَ بينهم

وهم زحزحوني عن مكانيَ بينهم

فغادرت ما أرعى وما أتعهد

فغادرت ما أرعى وما أتعهد

They pushed me from my place among them,

They removed me from my place among them

So I left what I tended and what I cared for.

So I left what I shepherd and pledged to uphold.

فلا يحتويني محفل من شبابهم

فلا يحتويني محفل من شبابهم

ولا يتلقاني مع الشيب معبد

ولا يتلقاني مع الشيب معبد

So no gathering of their young men takes me in,

No assembly of their youth contains me now,

Nor does a temple welcome me among the gray-haired.

Nor do their elders receive me in their sacred place.

أداري العدى فيما أرى اليوم منهمُ

أداري العدى فيما أرى اليوم منهمُ

مخافة ما يأتي به منهم الغد

مخافة ما يأتي به منهم الغد

I meet what I see from my foes today with tact,

I avoid the enemy in what I see from them today,

For fear of what tomorrow may bring from them.

Fearing what tomorrow might bring from them.

وأقنع منهم بالسلامة وحدها

وأقنع منهم بالسلامة وحدها

وغيري عليهم ثائر متمرد

وغيري عليهم ثائر متمرد

And I am content with nothing but safety from them,

And I make do with safety alone from them

While others rise against them, rebellious and defiant.

While others remain defiant rebels against them.

عرفت الذين الخير والشر عندهم

عرفت الذين الخير والشر عندهم

فسرت إليهم وافياً أتودد

فسرت إليهم وافياً أتودد

I knew those with whom good and evil lay,

I knew who had good and evil within,

So I went to them loyally, seeking their goodwill.

So I went to them, affectionate and gentle.

ولم يغنهم أني طليق مخير

ولم يغنهم أني طليق مخير

ولم يعنهم أني حبيس مقيد

ولم يعنهم أني حبيس مقيد

It did them no good that I was free to choose,

But it did not help that I was free and content,

Nor did it concern them that I was a captive in bonds,

Nor did it matter that I was a confined prisoner.

وأني لراض عنهمُ ما تلطفوا

وأني لراض عنهمُ ما تلطفوا

ولي عندهم نجوى وعندي لهم يد

ولي عندهم نجوى وعندي لهم يد

Or that I was indeed content with them so long as they were kind.

That I was pleased with them when they were kind

And I share private counsel with them, and owe them a favor.

And had intimate talks and gave them my hand.

دعوني وشأني ليلة أو ليالياً

دعوني وشأني ليلة أو ليالياً

أعاود فها قوتي وأجدد

أعاود فها قوتي وأجدد

Leave me to myself for a night or a few nights,

Leave me and my affairs for a night or nights

To regain my strength in that time and renew myself.

To regain my strength and renew myself.

ولو شئت أن أبقى سعيداً تركتكم

ولو شئت أن أبقى سعيداً تركتكم

ولكنني باق لأشقى وتسعدوا

ولكنني باق لأشقى وتسعدوا

Had I wished to remain happy, I would have left you;

Had I wanted to remain happy, I would have left you

But I stay, so that I may suffer and you be happy.

But I stay on - to suffer while you prosper.