ماhow أَخجلنيhas made me ashamed وقدand indeed أتتنيhave come to me الكتبُthe letters
ما أَخجلني وقد أتتني الكتبُ
تشكوcomplaining وتقولُand saying إنّهمthat they قدindeed عتبواhave taken offense
تشكو وتقولُ إنّهم قد عتبوا
How ashamed I am, now that the letters have come to me!
How ashamed I am, now that the letters have reached me,
They complain and say: they have indeed taken offense.
complaining and saying that they have taken offense.
همthey أهلُworthy of مودَّتيmy affection رضواthey are pleased أمor غضبواthey are angry
هم أهلُ مودَّتي رضوا أم غضبوا
ماhow أَعظمَgreat زلّتيmy fault إذاif لمnot يهبواthey forgive
ما أَعظمَ زلّتي إذا لم يهبوا
They are my own people—my affection is theirs, whether pleased or angry.
They are worthy of my affection, whether pleased or angry.
How grave my fault, if they do not forgive!
How great my fault if they do not forgive!
