أَخي يُسِرُّ لِيَ الشَحناءَ يُضمرُها

أَخي يُسِرُّ لِيَ الشَحناءَ يُضمرُها

حَتّى وَرى جَوفَهُ مِن غِمرِهِ الداءُ

حَتّى وَرى جَوفَهُ مِن غِمرِهِ الداءُ

My brother conceals his enmity toward me, harboring it,

My brother, hardship makes me grow lean with grief

Until disease born of his rancor consumed his innards.

Until illness shows in my inmost parts

حَرّانُ ذو غَصَّةٍ جَزَّعتُ غَصَّتَهُ

حَرّانُ ذو غَصَّةٍ جَزَّعتُ غَصَّتَهُ

وَقَد تَعَرَّضَ دونَ الغَصَّةِ الماءُ

وَقَد تَعَرَّضَ دونَ الغَصَّةِ الماءُ

Parched and choking, he was; I relieved his choking,

Scorching me, I tear open my heart's anguish

While water had interposed itself before the choking lump.

While before my pain the water lies exposed

حَتّى إِذا ما أَساغَ الريقَ أَنزَلَني

حَتّى إِذا ما أَساغَ الريقَ أَنزَلَني

مِنهُ كَما يُنزِلُ الأَعداءَ أَعداءُ

مِنهُ كَما يُنزِلُ الأَعداءَ أَعداءُ

Until, once he could swallow his saliva, he treated me

Until when my spittle is drained away

Just as enemies treat their enemies.

He casts me down as enemies cast their foes

أَسعى فَيَكفُرُ سَعيِي ما سَعَيتُ لَهُ

أَسعى فَيَكفُرُ سَعيِي ما سَعَيتُ لَهُ

إِنّي كَذاكَ مِنَ الإِخوانِ لَقّاءُ

إِنّي كَذاكَ مِنَ الإِخوانِ لَقّاءُ

I strive, but he is ungrateful for my striving whenever I strive for him.

I strive but my striving brings no gain

Indeed, I often meet such treatment from brothers.

Such am I among brothers when we meet

وَكَم يَدٍ وَيَدٍ لي عِندَهُ وَيَدٍ

وَكَم يَدٍ وَيَدٍ لي عِندَهُ وَيَدٍ

يَعُدُّهُنَّ تِراتٍ وَهيَ آلاءُ

يَعُدُّهُنَّ تِراتٍ وَهيَ آلاءُ

And how many a favor, and another, and another, have I done him!

How many a hand I have extended to him

He counts them as wrongs to avenge, though they are favors.

Which he counts as favors though gifts they be