يا اِبنَ الحِمارَةِ لِلحِمارِ وَإِنَّما

يا اِبنَ الحِمارَةِ لِلحِمارِ وَإِنَّما

تَلِدُ الحِمارَةُ وَالحِمارُ حِمارا

تَلِدُ الحِمارَةُ وَالحِمارُ حِمارا

O son of a she-ass by a he-ass! For it is only

Oh son of a donkey she-ass, the donkey begets but an ass

an ass that a she-ass and a he-ass beget.

Though a man were to walk wrapped in prestige tomorrow

وَلَوَ أَنَّ أَلأَمَ مَن مَشى يُكسى غَداً

وَلَوَ أَنَّ أَلأَمَ مَن مَشى يُكسى غَداً

ثَوباً لَرُحتَ وَقَد كُسيتَ إِزارا

ثَوباً لَرُحتَ وَقَد كُسيتَ إِزارا

And if the basest of all who have walked were clothed tomorrow

He'd walk as thou walk naked, clutching thy sash to thy thighs

in a garment, you would go off already clad in a waistcloth.

Thy manhood, which thou pridest, has given thee naught

كَلَمَت مُروءَتُكَ الَّتي تُعنى بِها

كَلَمَت مُروءَتُكَ الَّتي تُعنى بِها

لَو جادَ سَرجُكَ وَاِستَجَدَّ عِذارا

لَو جادَ سَرجُكَ وَاِستَجَدَّ عِذارا

Your manly honor, which you care about, would be wounded

Though thy saddle were jeweled and golden its stirrup

if your saddle were fine and acquired a new bridle-strap.