بَني مَطَرٍ إِنَّ الخُطوبَ تَهُونُ

بَني مَطَرٍ إِنَّ الخُطوبَ تَهُونُ

وَإِنَّ حَديثي عَنْكُمُ لَشُجون

وَإِنَّ حَديثي عَنْكُمُ لَشُجون

Sons of Matar, calamities grow lighter,

O clan of rain, surely hardships will pass

and indeed my tale of you is full of sorrow.

And my talk of you is full of sorrow

فَأَيَّ لِئامٍ كُنْتُمُ في رِعايَتي

فَأَيَّ لِئامٍ كُنْتُمُ في رِعايَتي

وَأَيَّ كَريمٍ في الجَزاءِ أَكونُ

وَأَيَّ كَريمٍ في الجَزاءِ أَكونُ

How base you were in your treatment of me,

What ingrates were you in caring for me

and how noble I shall be in repaying you!

And how generous will I be in reward

صَحبْتُكُمُ وَالْعَيْشُ أَغْبَرُ وَالغِنى

صَحبْتُكُمُ وَالْعَيْشُ أَغْبَرُ وَالغِنى

تَحَسَّرَ عَنْكُم وَالرِّياحُ سُكونُ

تَحَسَّرَ عَنْكُم وَالرِّياحُ سُكونُ

I kept you company when life was dust-grey, and wealth

I accompanied you when life was dreary and barren

had withdrawn from you, and the winds were still.

But prospered from you while winds were still

فَلمّا اسْتفَدْتُمْ ثَرْوَةً طِرْتُمُ بِها

فَلمّا اسْتفَدْتُمْ ثَرْوَةً طِرْتُمُ بِها

نَعَمْ وَبَطِرْتُمْ والجُنونُ فُنونُ

نَعَمْ وَبَطِرْتُمْ والجُنونُ فُنونُ

Then, when you acquired wealth, you soared with it;

When you gained wealth, you spurned me

yes, and grew insolent—madness has many forms.

Indeed you spurned me, though madness has skills

وَغَرَّتْكُمُ نُعْمَى لَبِسْتُمْ ظِلالَها

وَغَرَّتْكُمُ نُعْمَى لَبِسْتُمْ ظِلالَها

عَلى ثِقَةٍ بِالدَّهْرِ وَهْوَ خَؤونُ

عَلى ثِقَةٍ بِالدَّهْرِ وَهْوَ خَؤونُ

And prosperity beguiled you; you clothed yourselves in its shade,

Luxury deceived you, you donned its shadows

trusting in time, though it is ever treacherous.

Trusting in fate, which is deceitful

فَلا تُشْرِبُوا حُبَّ الثَّراءِ قُلوبَكُمْ

فَلا تُشْرِبُوا حُبَّ الثَّراءِ قُلوبَكُمْ

فَكُلٌّ عَلَيْهِ لِلْزَّمانِ عُيونُ

فَكُلٌّ عَلَيْهِ لِلْزَّمانِ عُيونُ

So do not make your hearts drink in the love of wealth,

Do not let love of wealth consume your hearts

for time has eyes upon everyone.

For time keeps an eye on all

رَكَنْتُمْ إِلَيهِ وَالحَوادِثُ عُوِّدَتْ

رَكَنْتُمْ إِلَيهِ وَالحَوادِثُ عُوِّدَتْ

إِذالَةَ مَالِ المَرْءِ وَهْوَ مَصونُ

إِذالَةَ مَالِ المَرْءِ وَهْوَ مَصونُ

You leaned on it, though calamities are accustomed

You leaned on it though misfortunes were accustomed

to laying a man's wealth low, even while it is guarded.

To humbling a man's wealth, even if safeguarded

فَما اليُسْرُ إِلَّا تَوْأَمُ العُسْرِ وَالمُنَى

فَما اليُسْرُ إِلَّا تَوْأَمُ العُسْرِ وَالمُنَى

تُسَوِّلُها لِلْعاجِزينَ ظُنونُ

تُسَوِّلُها لِلْعاجِزينَ ظُنونُ

For ease is but the twin of hardship, and wishes

Ease is only a twin of hardship, and death

are made alluring to the powerless by fancies.

Seduces the helpless with delusions