أهل المناصب فِي الدنيا ورفعتها

أهل المناصب فِي الدنيا ورفعتها

أهل الفضائل مرذولون بينهمُ

أهل الفضائل مرذولون بينهمُ

The holders of office and high standing in this world—

The people of high office and its elevations

people of virtue are despised among them.

While the people of virtues are scorned among them

قَدْ أنزلونا لأنا غير جنسهم

قَدْ أنزلونا لأنا غير جنسهم

منازل الوحش فِي الإهمال عندهمُ

منازل الوحش فِي الإهمال عندهمُ

They have indeed relegated us, because we are not of their kind,

They have lowered us because we are not of their kind

to the status of wild beasts, neglected by them.

To the status of beasts in negligence according to them

فما لهم فِي توقي ضيرنا نظر

فما لهم فِي توقي ضيرنا نظر

وَمَا لهم فِي ترقي قدرنا هممُ

وَمَا لهم فِي ترقي قدرنا هممُ

So they give no thought to guarding against our harm,

So why should they care to stop our misery

nor have they any resolve to raise our standing.

And why should they strive to raise our status

فليتنا لَوْ قدرنا أن نعرِّفَهُمْ

فليتنا لَوْ قدرنا أن نعرِّفَهُمْ

مقدارهم عندنا أَوْ لَوْ دَروه هُمُ

مقدارهم عندنا أَوْ لَوْ دَروه هُمُ

If only, then, we could make them know

If only we could make them know

their worth in our eyes—or if only they knew it themselves.

Our estimation of them, or if only they knew

لهم مريحان من جهل وفرط غنىً

لهم مريحان من جهل وفرط غنىً

وعندنا المتْعِبان العِلْمُ والعدَمُ

وعندنا المتْعِبان العِلْمُ والعدَمُ

They have two comforts: ignorance and excessive wealth;

They have comfort from ignorance and excessive wealth

while ours are the two burdens: knowledge and poverty.

While we have hardship, knowledge, and poverty