وَقالوا الرزقُ بِالتدريسِ صعبٌ

وَقالوا الرزقُ بِالتدريسِ صعبٌ

لأنّ رَقيبهُ مذكٍ عُيونَه

لأنّ رَقيبهُ مذكٍ عُيونَه

They said, “Earning a living by teaching is hard,

And they said, “Earning a living by teaching is hard,

for its overseer keeps his eyes keen.”

because its overseer sends out his spies.”

فَقلتُ بظاهر في الأمرِ لينٌ

فَقلتُ بظاهر في الأمرِ لينٌ

ولَكن باطناً يُخشى خُشونه

ولَكن باطناً يُخشى خُشونه

I said, “On the face of it, the matter is smooth,

So I said, “Outwardly, there is gentleness in the matter,

yet beneath the surface, its roughness is to be feared.”

but inwardly, harshness is to be feared.”