في الضيق كان يزورني

في الضيق كان يزورني

يشكو إلى من الحرج

يشكو إلى من الحرج

In hardship he used to visit me,

In hardship, he would visit me

complaining to me of distress.

Complaining of distress

فأحد من أشجانه

فأحد من أشجانه

وأريه ناحية الفرج

وأريه ناحية الفرج

So I would ease his sorrows

So I would comfort him

and show him the way to relief.

And show him the way to relief

لكنه لم أغتنى

لكنه لم أغتنى

إن زرته قالوا خرج

إن زرته قالوا خرج

But when he grew wealthy,

But he was not content

if I visited him, they said, "He has gone out,"

If I visited, they said he left

وهو المقيم ببيته

وهو المقيم ببيته

لكن كذا أهل العوج

لكن كذا أهل العوج

while he was staying in his house.

And he stayed home

But such is the way of crooked folk.

But so it is with the crooked

ما زُرته مستعطياً

ما زُرته مستعطياً

أترى تذكر فانزعج

أترى تذكر فانزعج

I did not visit him seeking a gift.

I did not visit asking for anything

Do you suppose he remembered and grew uneasy?

Do you think he would remember and be disturbed