أَلا إِنَّ أَسبابَ الصَفاءِ تَصَرَّمَت

أَلا إِنَّ أَسبابَ الصَفاءِ تَصَرَّمَت

فَما لِمَوَدّاتِ الرِجالِ صَفاءُ

فَما لِمَوَدّاتِ الرِجالِ صَفاءُ

Lo, the bonds of sincere affection have been severed.

Alas! The means of sincerity are broken;

So there is no sincerity in men's affections.

So the cordiality of men is insincere.

وَما لِجَميعِ العالِمينَ رِعايَةً

وَما لِجَميعِ العالِمينَ رِعايَةً

وَما لِجَميعِ العالِمينَ وَفاءُ

وَما لِجَميعِ العالِمينَ وَفاءُ

And no one in all the world shows consideration,

The whole world has no true care,

Nor does anyone in all the world keep faith.

Nor has the whole world true fidelity.

أَلا إِنَّما آوى وَعَنقاءُ مَغرِبٍ

أَلا إِنَّما آوى وَعَنقاءُ مَغرِبٍ

وَعُرسُ وَإِخوانُ الصَفاءِ سَواءُ

وَعُرسُ وَإِخوانُ الصَفاءِ سَواءُ

Lo, Āwā and the ʿAnqāʾ of the West,

Alas! There is sincerity only in a secluded nook,

And ʿUrs and true friends are all alike.

Or with kinsfolk whose sincerity equals mine.