صارَ التَّصرُّف صَرفاً

صارَ التَّصرُّف صَرفاً

للرزقِ عمن تَصَرَّف

للرزقِ عمن تَصَرَّف

Holding office has become a turning-away

Managing affairs has become a diversion

of livelihood from whoever takes office.

of livelihood away from whoever manages them.

يَروم نفعاً فيعطي

يَروم نفعاً فيعطي

صفعاً به الفيل يَرعَف

صفعاً به الفيل يَرعَف

He seeks some gain, and it gives him instead

He seeks benefit, and it gives him

a slap that would make even an elephant’s nose bleed.

slaps that make an elephant's nose bleed.

دَعهُ كما هو إلا

دَعهُ كما هو إلا

لؤمٌ بشؤمٍ مُغلَّف

لؤمٌ بشؤمٍ مُغلَّف

Leave it just as it is—nothing but

Leave it as it is—nothing but

baseness wrapped in ill omen.

baseness wrapped in ill fortune.

وإنَّ أحسَنَ منه

وإنَّ أحسَنَ منه

بالمرءِ أن يَتَكَفَّف

بالمرءِ أن يَتَكَفَّف

And in my judgment, better than that

And indeed, better than it

is for a man to hold out his hand and beg.

is for a person to beg.