هَلquestion marker لَكَfor you فيin ذيpossessing شَيبَةٍgray hair مَعاهِدfaithful to his obligations
هَل لَكَ في ذي شَيبَةٍ مَعاهِد
عَلىresponsible for عِيالٍdependents فيin زَمانٍan age جاحِدgrudging
عَلى عِيالٍ في زَمانٍ جاحِد
Would you take an interest in a gray-haired man, faithful to his obligations,
Do you give refuge to one whose hair is grey
Responsible for dependents in a grudging age,
With family in an unforgiving day?
يَرْجُوكhe hopes in you إِذwhen أَبْكَأَhas given sparingly كُلُّevery رافِدْbenefactor
يَرْجُوك إِذ أَبْكَأَ كُلُّ رافِدْ
Who hopes in you now that every benefactor gives but little?
He hopes in you when every spring runs dry