ياO ربLord لاneither غبطةdesire for like good fortune ولاnor حسدenvy
يا رب لا غبطة ولا حسد
ولاnor انتقادcriticism فلستfor You are not تنتقدcriticized
ولا انتقاد فلست تنتقد
O Lord, neither emulation nor envy,
O Lord, no envy or jealousy
Nor criticism, for You are not to be criticized.
No criticism, for you do not criticize
أرىI see ثراءwealth أفادهearned it قلمa pen
أرى ثراء أفاده قلم
أخفlighter منهthan it فيin المسمعthe ear الوتدthe stake
أخف منه في المسمع الوتد
I see wealth that a pen has earned;
I see wealth gained by a pen
A stake is gentler on the ear than it.
Lighter than a tent peg to the ear
فهلso, has ...? أفادbenefited البلادthe country فائدةa benefit
فهل أفاد البلاد فائدة
أمor اعتنيtook an interest بالجهالةin ignorance البلدthe country
أم اعتني بالجهالة البلد
So has it brought the country any benefit,
Did he benefit the country
Or did the country take an interest in ignorance?
Or care for the ignorance of the land