ظَنَنتُ بِهِ ظَنّاً فَقَصَّرَ دونَهُ

ظَنَنتُ بِهِ ظَنّاً فَقَصَّرَ دونَهُ

فَيارُبَّ مَظنونٍ بِهِ الظَنُّ يُخلِفُ

فَيارُبَّ مَظنونٍ بِهِ الظَنُّ يُخلِفُ

I held an expectation of him, but he fell short of it.

I thought well of him, but he fell short of my expectation.

I placed my hope in him but he fell short of it, / For how often does the one trusted fail the trust.

And many a man disappoints the expectations placed in him.

So my Lord, he upon whom good is expected, may disappoint.

If a man loves you not except with reluctance, / Then leave him be, and waste not your affection upon him.

إِذا المَرءُ لَم يُحبِبكَ أَلا تَكَرُّهاً

إِذا المَرءُ لَم يُحبِبكَ أَلا تَكَرُّهاً

فَذَرهُ وَلا تُكثِر عَليهِ التَعطُّفُ

فَذَرهُ وَلا تُكثِر عَليهِ التَعطُّفُ

If a man loves you only unwillingly,

If a person does not make you fond of him, do not hate him,

For the people are not the people you once knew, / Nor is the dwelling the dwelling that you recognize.

then leave him, and do not lavish affection on him.

Just leave him be, and do not be overly friendly to him.

فَما الناسُ بِالناسِ الَّذينَ عَرَفتَهُم

فَما الناسُ بِالناسِ الَّذينَ عَرَفتَهُم

وَلا الدَارُ بِالدَارِ الَّتي أَنتَ تَعرِفُ

وَلا الدَارُ بِالدَارِ الَّتي أَنتَ تَعرِفُ

For people are not the people you knew,

For people are not as you once knew them,

nor is the dwelling the dwelling you know.

Nor is the abode as the one you recognize.