خَليلَيَّmy two friends ماذاwhat أَرتَجيcan I hope for مِنfrom غَدِtomorrow اِمرِئٍa man
خَليلَيَّ ماذا أَرتَجي مِن غَدِ اِمرِئٍ
طَوىfolded الكَشحَthe flank عَنّيfrom me اليَومَtoday وَهوَwhile he مَكينُwell placed
طَوى الكَشحَ عَنّي اليَومَ وَهوَ مَكينُ
My two friends, what can I hope for tomorrow from a man
who has turned his flank away from me today, though he is well placed?
وَإِنَّand indeed اِمرُأًa man قَدhas ضَنَّbeen stingy عَنّيfrom me بِمَنطِقٍwith a word
وَإِنَّ اِمرُأً قَد ضَنَّ عَنّي بِمَنطِقٍ
يَسُدُّhe meets بِهِwith it مِنsome of خَلَّتيmy need لَضَنينُtruly miserly
يَسُدُّ بِهِ مِن خَلَّتي لَضَنينُ
And surely a man who has begrudged me a word
with which he could meet some of my need is truly miserly.