قَد قَرُبَ الأَمرُ بَعدَ بُعدِه

قَد قَرُبَ الأَمرُ بَعدَ بُعدِه

وَأَسعَفَ الإِلفُ بَعدَ صَدِّه

وَأَسعَفَ الإِلفُ بَعدَ صَدِّه

The matter has drawn near after being far away;

The matter has now drawn near after being far away,

the beloved has shown favor after turning away.

And the beloved has obliged after turning away.

وَبَعدَ بُؤسٍ وَضيقِ عَيشٍ

وَبَعدَ بُؤسٍ وَضيقِ عَيشٍ

صِرتَ إِلى خَفضِهِ وَرَغدِه

صِرتَ إِلى خَفضِهِ وَرَغدِه

And after misery and a straitened life,

And after misery and hardship in life,

I have come to its ease and plenty.

You have come to its ease and plenty.

لَكِنَّهُ مَلبَسٌ مُعارٌ

لَكِنَّهُ مَلبَسٌ مُعارٌ

لابُدَّ مِن نَزعِهِ وَرَدِّه

لابُدَّ مِن نَزعِهِ وَرَدِّه

Yet it is a borrowed garment,

But it is a borrowed garment,

which must inevitably be taken off and returned.

Which must be taken off and returned.

وَهَل يُسَرُّ الفَتى بِحَظٍّ

وَهَل يُسَرُّ الفَتى بِحَظٍّ

وُجودُهُ عِلَّةٌ لِفَقدِه

وُجودُهُ عِلَّةٌ لِفَقدِه

How can a man rejoice in his good fortune,

And can a young man rejoice in good fortune

when its very existence is the cause of its loss?

Whose existence is the cause of its loss?