أَقسى مِنَ الحَجَرِ الأَصَمِّ فُؤادُه

أَقسى مِنَ الحَجَرِ الأَصَمِّ فُؤادُه

وَأَرَقُّ مِن عَزفِ الرِّياحِ فُؤادي

وَأَرَقُّ مِن عَزفِ الرِّياحِ فُؤادي

His heart is harder than solid stone,

And my heart more tender than the music of the winds.

أَشكو إِلَيهِ وَقَد تَبَيَّنَ فاقَتي

أَشكو إِلَيهِ وَقَد تَبَيَّنَ فاقَتي

فَيَصُدُّ صَدَّ غَريبَةِ الأَذوادِ

فَيَصُدُّ صَدَّ غَريبَةِ الأَذوادِ

I complain to him, though he has already discerned my need,

But he drives me off like a she-camel strange to the herds.

عازَلتُه بِتَضَرُّعٍ وَتَخَشُّعٍ

عازَلتُه بِتَضَرُّعٍ وَتَخَشُّعٍ

فَنَأى وَنازَعَني هَواهُ قِيادي

فَنَأى وَنازَعَني هَواهُ قِيادي

I strove with him through supplication and humble submission,

Then he withdrew, and love for him wrestled me for my reins.

فَأَجَبتُ حاجَتَهُ وَأَخَّرَ حاجَتي

فَأَجَبتُ حاجَتَهُ وَأَخَّرَ حاجَتي

شَتَّان بَينَ مُبَخَّلٍ وَجَوادِ

شَتَّان بَينَ مُبَخَّلٍ وَجَوادِ

So I met his need, while he put mine off.

What a gulf between one deemed miserly and one generous!