للهto God (an exclamation of wonder) قومٍa people رفعتُI raised ذكرُهمُtheir renown
لله قومٍ رفعتُ ذكرُهمُ
مدحاin praise وهُمwhile they يُخفضوننيthey bring me low ذمّاwith blame
مدحا وهُم يُخفضونني ذمّا
By God, what a people! I raised their renown
For a people I exalted their mention
in praise, while they bring me low with blame.
In praise, while they belittled me in blame
إنif اسمُI rise قدراin rank وقدthough already خُفضتُI was brought low فلاthen no
إن اسمُ قدرا وقد خُفضتُ فلا
غروwonder إذsince الخفضlowering; also genitive inflection خّصwas reserved بالأسمىfor the loftiest
غرو إذ الخفض خّص بالأسمى
If I rise in rank, though I have been brought low, there is no
Though my name denotes nobility, I was debased, but no wonder
wonder, since abasement is reserved for the loftiest.
Since debasement has singled out the most noble