شَكى الزَمانَ بِهِ أَمضى بِهِ قَدَراً

شَكى الزَمانَ بِهِ أَمضى بِهِ قَدَراً

إِنَّ الزَمانَ لَمَحمودٌ عَلى الأَبَدِ

إِنَّ الزَمانَ لَمَحمودٌ عَلى الأَبَدِ

He complained of Time for the decree it carried out upon him.

He complained of time, though it had decreed his fate

Indeed, Time is forever praiseworthy.

Indeed time is forever praiseworthy

لَن يُبطِئَ الأَمرُ ما أَمَّلتَ أَوبَتَهُ

لَن يُبطِئَ الأَمرُ ما أَمَّلتَ أَوبَتَهُ

وَإِن أَعانَكَ فيهِ رِفقُ مُتَّئِدِ

وَإِن أَعانَكَ فيهِ رِفقُ مُتَّئِدِ

The matter will not be delayed so long as you hope for its return,

The matter will not be delayed, whatever you hope for or desire

even if the gentleness of one who takes his time aids you in it.

And if it aids you in that, it is gently pulling along

وَالدَهرُ آخِذُ ما أَعطى مُكَدِّرُ ما

وَالدَهرُ آخِذُ ما أَعطى مُكَدِّرُ ما

أَصفى وَمُفسِدُ ما أَهوى لَهُ بِيَدِ

أَصفى وَمُفسِدُ ما أَهوى لَهُ بِيَدِ

And Time takes back what it gave, clouds what

Time takes what it gave, making bitter what was sweet

it made clear, and spoils what it reached toward with a hand.

And corrupting what it loved, in its hand

فَلا يَغُرَّنكَ مِن دَهرٍ عَطِيَّتُهُ

فَلا يَغُرَّنكَ مِن دَهرٍ عَطِيَّتُهُ

فَلَيسَ يَترُكُ ما أَعطى عَلى أَحَدِ

فَلَيسَ يَترُكُ ما أَعطى عَلى أَحَدِ

So do not let Time's gift deceive you,

So do not let its gift deceive you

for it does not leave what it gave with anyone.

For it will not leave what it gave to anyone