أفاعِلٌare you acting? بيtoward me فعالَthe deeds of الموكِسِthe belittler الزاريthe disparager
أفاعِلٌ بي فعالَ الموكِسِ الزاري
ونحنُand we نُسألُwe are questioned فيماabout whatever كانoccurred منof عارِdisgrace
ونحنُ نُسألُ فيما كان من عارِ
Are you treating me as a belittling detractor would,
Transgressors commit immoral acts,
Do you treat me with the deed of the cheating scorner,
While we are questioned about whatever disgrace has occurred?
While we are questioned for every shame.
While we are questioned on the shame that has transpired?
قُلtell ليto me بحُرمَةِby the honor of منthe one ضيَّعتَyou disregarded حُرمَتَهُhis honor
قُل لي بحُرمَةِ من ضيَّعتَ حُرمَتَهُ
أكانwas it? قدرَكَyour worth ذاthis أمor كانwas مقداريmy worth
أكان قدرَكَ ذا أم كان مقداري
Tell me, by the honor of the one whose honor you disregarded:
Tell me by whose dignity you transgressed,
Tell me, by the sanctity of him whose right you wasted,
Was this the measure of your worth, or of mine?
Was it fate or my fault to blame?
Was this the measure of your worth, or was it mine?
لاnot عشتُmay I live إنif رضيَتis content نفسيmy soul ولاand not رَكِبَتmay it ride
لا عشتُ إن رضيَت نفسي ولا رَكِبَت
رجلٌa foot سعَيتُI went بهاwith it فيin pursuit of مثلِsomeone like دينارِDinar
رجلٌ سعَيتُ بها في مثلِ دينارِ
May I not live if my soul accepts this, nor may there ever ride
I swear I'll never be pleased with myself,
May I not live if I agree, nor may a foot advance,
A foot with which I sought someone like Dinar.
If I ride with those chasing a coin.
That I have worn to strive for the likes of a dinar.
وَليُّكَyour protector اللَهُGod لِمْwhy صيَّرتَنيyou made me مَثَلاًa proverbial example
وَليُّكَ اللَهُ لِمْ صيَّرتَني مَثَلاً
كالمُستَجيرِlike one seeking refuge منfrom الرمضاءِthe sun-scorched ground بالنارِin fire
كالمُستَجيرِ من الرمضاءِ بالنارِ
God be your protector! Why have you made me a byword,
May God help you, why make me a parable,
God be your judge! Why have you made a proverb of me:
Like one seeking refuge from sun-scorched ground in fire?
Like one seeking refuge from heat in flame.
Like one who flees the scorching sands to shelter in the fire?