أيهاO you السائليwho ask me عنabout ابنthe son of فلانso-and-so
أيها السائلي عن ابن فلان
وديونand debts عليهowed by him دهراfor a stretch of time ملياlong
وديون عليه دهرا مليا
O you who ask about so-and-so’s son,
O you who ask me about the son of so-and-so,
and the debts that have weighed on him so long:
And the debts he has owed for so long:
ليسdoes not يقضيكrepay you حبةa grain منof ديونdebts
ليس يقضيك حبة من ديون
ويكيلand he measures out الإيمانfaith; apparently 'oaths' intended كيلاa measure وفياfull
ويكيل الإيمان كيلا وفيا
he will not repay you a single grain of what he owes,
He repays you not a grain of his debts,
yet he measures out oaths in full measure.
Yet he measures out oaths in full measure.
أنthat; apparently 'if' intended تخاشنهyou treat him harshly فيin تقاضيهdemanding repayment from him يوماone day
أن تخاشنه في تقاضيه يوما
صارباunclear; apparently 'became, by…' لحلفfor an oath; apparently completing 'by an oath' دينهhis debt مقضباcut off; apparently 'settled' intended
صاربا لحلف دينه مقضبا
If one day you press him harshly for payment,
If one day you treat him harshly when demanding repayment,
through swearing, his debt comes to count as paid.
[Wording unclear; apparently: his debt is then settled by an oath.]
