لَئِن أَلوى بِوَعدِكَ طولُ مطل

لَئِن أَلوى بِوَعدِكَ طولُ مطل

تُسبّ بِهِ إِلى يَوم الفِعالِ

تُسبّ بِهِ إِلى يَوم الفِعالِ

If long delay has carried off your promise,

If prolonged procrastination has twisted your promise,

you are reviled for it until the day you act;

For which you are blamed until the day of fulfillment,

فَكَم مِن بارِق في السَهلِ شِمنا

فَكَم مِن بارِق في السَهلِ شِمنا

مخايله فخيَّم بالجِبالِ

مخايله فخيَّم بالجِبالِ

for many a lightning cloud on the plain have we watched

For how often have we watched a lightning flash in the plain,

for its signs of rain—only for it to pitch camp in the mountains.

Whose signs appeared, yet it settled upon the mountains.