نظامNizam (order) العلاal-‘Ula (eminence) ماwhat بالُis the matter with قلبِكَyour heart قدindeed غداbecome
نظام العلا ما بالُ قلبِكَ قد غدا
علىtoward عبدِكَyour servant المسكينِthe poor one دونto the exclusion of الوَرىall people فَظّاharsh
على عبدِكَ المسكينِ دون الوَرى فَظّا
Nizam al-‘Ula, why has your heart become
My Lord, why has your heart turned
harsh toward your poor servant alone among all people?
Against this poor servant, cruel and harsh?
أناI أكثرُgreatest الورُرادِthe visitors حقّاin rightful claim وحُرمةًand in respect due
أنا أكثرُ الورُرادِ حقّا وحُرمةً
عليكَfrom you فماso what باليis the matter with me أقلُّهُمُthe least of them حَظاin fortune
عليكَ فما بالي أقلُّهُمُ حَظا
Of all visitors, I have the greatest claim and right to respect
Of all your subjects, I'm the most deserving,
from you; why, then, am I the least fortunate of them?
Yet have the smallest share of luck or fortune.