إِن يَحْلُ دهرٌ أو يَمَرَّ فإِنّنِي

إِن يَحْلُ دهرٌ أو يَمَرَّ فإِنّنِي

في حالتيهِ مُجْمِلٌ متَجَمِّلُ

في حالتيهِ مُجْمِلٌ متَجَمِّلُ

If time grows sweet or bitter, I am

If time passes by or goes on, I

In either state gracious and dignified.

In both states compose and persevere

أو حالَ ما بيني وبينَ مطالبي

أو حالَ ما بيني وبينَ مطالبي

خطبٌ فذلك حائلٌ متحوِّلُ

خطبٌ فذلك حائلٌ متحوِّلُ

Or if between me and my aims there intervenes

Or if what's between me and my pursuit

A calamity, it is a passing barrier.

Becomes obstacles that change

لا تأمُلُنَّ بني الزمان فطالما

لا تأمُلُنَّ بني الزمان فطالما

أكدَى وخابَ الآمِلُ المتأمِّلُ

أكدَى وخابَ الآمِلُ المتأمِّلُ

Do not place your hopes in the sons of the age, for often

Do not hope, O time, for I have often

The hopeful, expectant man has failed and been disappointed.

Been deceived when hoping and wishing

كان المروءةُ والفتوَّةُ والنَّدى

كان المروءةُ والفتوَّةُ والنَّدى

وابنُ الكمالِ الفاضلُ المتفضِّلُ

وابنُ الكمالِ الفاضلُ المتفضِّلُ

Once there were honor, chivalry, and generosity,

Chivalry, excellence and benevolence

And Ibn al-Kamal, virtuous and munificent.

Were the gracious, generous, perfect son

فاليوم قد نُسخَتْ وأقبلَ بعدَهُ

فاليوم قد نُسخَتْ وأقبلَ بعدَهُ

خَلَفٌ فمثلي عاطِلٌ متعَطِّلُ

خَلَفٌ فمثلي عاطِلٌ متعَطِّلُ

So today they have been effaced, and after him has come

But today they are repealed and after them

A successor; so one like me is idle, left without work.

Comes a successor, while I am inactive and hindered

وجفتنيَ الدنيا وسوف تَبُرُّنِي

وجفتنيَ الدنيا وسوف تَبُرُّنِي

إِن عادَ ذاك المقبِلُ المتقَبِّلُ

إِن عادَ ذاك المقبِلُ المتقَبِّلُ

And the world has shunned me, yet it will be kind to me

The world has abandoned me and will disown me

If that welcoming, receptive one returns.

If the forthcoming receiver returns again