خليليّ جار الدّهر عنّي وأحمدُ

خليليّ جار الدّهر عنّي وأحمدُ

فموتي خيرٌ من حياتي وأحمدُ

فموتي خيرٌ من حياتي وأحمدُ

O my two friends, time and Ahmad have turned away from me;

My friend, time has distanced me, yet I praise

So my death is better than my life, and more praiseworthy.

For in death I shall find more joy than in life's ways

فذلك يكسوني ثياب مذلّة

فذلك يكسوني ثياب مذلّة

وهذا بسيف الهجر عمدا يُهدّدُ

وهذا بسيف الهجر عمدا يُهدّدُ

For the former clothes me in garments of humiliation,

One clothes me in garments of disgrace and shame

And the latter deliberately threatens me with the sword of estrangement.

While the other with sword of estrangement threatens and maims