تَعَاوَرُنِي الآمَالُ حَتَّى نَهَكْنَنِي

تَعَاوَرُنِي الآمَالُ حَتَّى نَهَكْنَنِي

مَتَى يَمْضِ مِنْهَا تَالِدٌ يَأْتِ طَارِفُ

مَتَى يَمْضِ مِنْهَا تَالِدٌ يَأْتِ طَارِفُ

Hopes have assailed me in turn until they have worn me out.

Hope upon hope wore me out,

Whenever an old one passes, a new one comes.

When will this endless procession passing by, cease?

وَأَكْثَرْتُ فِي الأَرْضِ التَّصَرُّفَ مُعْذِرَاً

وَأَكْثَرْتُ فِي الأَرْضِ التَّصَرُّفَ مُعْذِرَاً

فَمَا بَلَغَتْ بِي حَيْثُ أَهْوَى المَصَارِفُ

فَمَا بَلَغَتْ بِي حَيْثُ أَهْوَى المَصَارِفُ

And I have roamed widely through the land, sparing no effort;

I wandered the earth seeking excuses,

Yet these pursuits have not brought me where I long to be.

But my fate would not let me reach where I yearn to be.

وَعِنْدِي لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ سَيْرٌ أُغِدُّهُ

وَعِنْدِي لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ سَيْرٌ أُغِدُّهُ

إِلَى الرِّزْقِ إِلاَّ أَنَّ حَظَّيَ وَاقِفُ

إِلَى الرِّزْقِ إِلاَّ أَنَّ حَظَّيَ وَاقِفُ

And, by God's life, I hasten on my way

By God, I have a journey ahead,

Toward a livelihood—yet my fortune stands still.

Seeking livelihood, if only my fortune would let me proceed.