قاضٍa judge مَضىdeparted لسبيلهِon his way لمّاwhen قَضىpassed judgment
قاضٍ مَضى لسبيلهِ لمّا قَضى
ماnot كانَhe was أوّلَthe first مَنone who قَضىpassed judgment ثمَّthen انْقَضىcame to an end
ما كانَ أوّلَ مَن قَضى ثمَّ انْقَضى
A judge went his way when he had passed judgment.
He was not the first to pass judgment and then pass away.
ودهشتُand I was bewildered حتىto the point that لستُI am not أدْريI know أنّهُthat he
ودهشتُ حتى لستُ أدْري أنّهُ
ماضٍone who has departed قضىjudged أوor أنّهthat he قاضٍa judge مَضىdeparted
ماضٍ قضى أو أنّه قاضٍ مَضى
And I was so bewildered that I cannot tell whether he is
a departed man who judged, or a judge who departed.