دَعْنيlet me أصُنْprotect حرَّthe dignity of وجهيmy face عنfrom إذالتهِits humiliation
دَعْني أصُنْ حرَّ وجهي عن إذالتهِ
وإنْand even if تغرَّبتُI went into exile عنfrom أهليmy family وعنand from ولديmy offspring
وإنْ تغرَّبتُ عن أهلي وعن ولدي
Let me protect the dignity of my face from humiliation,
Let me shield my face from humiliation
Even if I live far from my family and my offspring.
Though I've been estranged from family and child
قالواthey said نَأَيتَyou went far away عنِfrom الإخوانِthe brethren قلتُI said لهمto them
قالوا نَأَيتَ عنِ الإخوانِ قلتُ لهم
ماno ليI have أخٌa brother ماwhat تُطوَىis folded عليهِover it يَديmy hand
ما لي أخٌ ما تُطوَى عليهِ يَدي
They said, “You have gone far from your brethren.” I said to them:
They said, you've shunned your brethren, I told them
“I have no brother but what my hand encloses.”
I have no brother whose hand I can take