أَرى الناسَ قَد مَلّوا الفِعالَ وَلا أَرى

أَرى الناسَ قَد مَلّوا الفِعالَ وَلا أَرى

بَني خَلَفٍ إِلّا رَواءَ المَوارِدِ

بَني خَلَفٍ إِلّا رَواءَ المَوارِدِ

I see that people have tired of noble deeds, and I do not see

I see people have grown weary of good deeds, yet

The sons of Khalaf as anything but plentiful water at the watering places.

I see no sons of successors except seekers of favors.

إِذا نَفَعوا عادوا لِمَن يَنفَعونَهُ

إِذا نَفَعوا عادوا لِمَن يَنفَعونَهُ

وَكائِن تَرى مِن نافِعٍ غَيرِ عائِدِ

وَكائِن تَرى مِن نافِعٍ غَيرِ عائِدِ

When they give help, they return to whomever they help;

When they do good, they return to those they benefited,

And how many benefactors you see who do not return!

Yet how often you see a benefactor who does not return.

إِذا ما اِنجَلَت عَنهُم غَمامَةُ غَمرَةٍ

إِذا ما اِنجَلَت عَنهُم غَمامَةُ غَمرَةٍ

مِنَ المَوتِ أَجلَت عَن كِرامٍ مَذاوِدِ

مِنَ المَوتِ أَجلَت عَن كِرامٍ مَذاوِدِ

Whenever the cloud of an overwhelming ordeal lifts from them—

When the clouds of death's deluge are lifted from them

An ordeal of death—it reveals noble defenders.

Noble souls are uncovered from deep graves.

تَسودُ غَطاريفَ المُلوكِ مُلوكُهُم

تَسودُ غَطاريفَ المُلوكِ مُلوكُهُم

وَما جِدُهُم يَعلو عَلى كُلِّ ماجِدِ

وَما جِدُهُم يَعلو عَلى كُلِّ ماجِدِ

Their kings hold sway over the noble chiefs among kings,

Kings inherit the thrones of kings before them,

And their earnestness does not rise above every noble man.

Yet their excellence rises not above each noble soul.