أَتَتنيcame to me هناتpetty slights منfrom رجالmen كأَنَّهاas though they were
أَتَتني هنات من رجال كأَنَّها
خنافسbeetles ليلnight ليسthere are no فيهاamong them عقاربُscorpions
خنافس ليل ليس فيها عقاربُ
Petty slights came to me from men, as though they were
Some men came to me like beetles in the night
Beetles of the night, with no scorpions among them.
With no scorpions among them
أَحلواthey treated as lawful علىagainst عرضيmy honor فأَحرمتُso I refrained عنهمfrom them
أَحلوا على عرضي فأَحرمتُ عنهم
وفيand in اللَهGod جارa protector لاnot يَنامsleeps وطالبُand an avenger
وفي اللَه جار لا يَنام وطالبُ
They treated my honor as fair game, but I refrained from attacking them;
They encroached upon me so I denied them
And in God I have a protector who never sleeps, and an avenger.
And in God I have a tireless guardian and seeker