ياO مَنwho يَبيعُsells الرُشدَsound judgment بِالغَيِّfor error
يا مَن يَبيعُ الرُشدَ بِالغَيِّ
صَدغُكَyour temple مُحتاجٌin need إِلىof الكَيِّcauterization
صَدغُكَ مُحتاجٌ إِلى الكَيِّ
O you who sell sound judgment for error,
O you who sells righteousness for evil
Your temple needs cauterizing.
Your conscience needs cauterization
ياO مَيِّتَdead الخاطِرِof wit حَتّىuntil مَتىwhen
يا مَيِّتَ الخاطِرِ حَتّى مَتى
تَطعَنُyou stab فيat خاطِريmy wit الحَيِّliving
تَطعَنُ في خاطِري الحَيِّ
O you whose wit is dead, how long
O you whose heart is dead, how long
Will you stab at my living wit?
Will you stab at my living heart?
ماnot أَنتَyou لاnot حارٌّhot وَلاnor بارِدٌcold
ما أَنتَ لا حارٌّ وَلا بارِدٌ
بَلrather بارِدٌcold تَصلُحُyou are fit لِلقَيِّfor vomiting
بَل بارِدٌ تَصلُحُ لِلقَيِّ
You are neither hot nor cold—
You're not hot or cold
Rather, cold, and fit to make one vomit.
Rather, cold enough for burial