لقينا بها ثلباً ضريراً كأنه

لقينا بها ثلباً ضريراً كأنه

إلى كل من ألاقي من الناس مذنبُ

إلى كل من ألاقي من الناس مذنبُ

There we met a decrepit, afflicted beast, as though

We met a blind beggar there as if he

he were guilty in the eyes of every person I meet.

To each one I meet of people is a sinner

مضيعاً إذا أثرى كسوباً إذا عدا

مضيعاً إذا أثرى كسوباً إذا عدا

لساعته ما يستفيد ويكسبُ

لساعته ما يستفيد ويكسبُ

Wasteful when rich, acquisitive when he runs,

Lost when he became wealthy, aggressive when he turned away

he squanders at once whatever he obtains and earns.

For his time what benefits and earns

تضور يشكو ما به من خصاصة

تضور يشكو ما به من خصاصة

وكاد من الإفصاح بالشكو يعربُ

وكاد من الإفصاح بالشكو يعربُ

He moaned, complaining of the want that beset him,

Suffering, complaining of his poverty

and almost spoke, so plainly did he voice his complaint.

And almost revealing his complaints in speech

فنشنا له من ذي المزاود حصة

فنشنا له من ذي المزاود حصة

وللزاد آسار تلقى وتوهبُ

وللزاد آسار تلقى وتوهبُ

So we took a portion for him from the provision bags;

So we gave him a share from the benevolent

and provisions have leftovers, cast aside and given away.

And for provision, gifts he receives and is granted

وقلنا له هل ذاك فاستغن بالقرى

وقلنا له هل ذاك فاستغن بالقرى

ومن ذي الأداوي عندنا لك مشربُ

ومن ذي الأداوي عندنا لك مشربُ

And we said to him, 'That is enough; let this guest-fare suffice you,

And we told him, does that suffice, be content in the villages

and we have a drink for you from the waterskins.'

And from those who heal, for you here is a drink

وصُب له شول من الماء غابر

وصُب له شول من الماء غابر

به كفَّ عنه الحِيبة المتحوبُ

به كفَّ عنه الحِيبة المتحوبُ

And a scant remnant of water was poured for him,

And poured for him a bucket of fresh water

with which the scrupulous man drove want away from him.

With it the swelling thirst was quenched