أَبكيكَ لِلأَيّامِ حينَ تَجَهَّمَت

أَبكيكَ لِلأَيّامِ حينَ تَجَهَّمَت

طَلَبي وَلَم يَكُ لي وَراءَكَ مُنجَعُ

طَلَبي وَلَم يَكُ لي وَراءَكَ مُنجَعُ

I mourn you for the days when they frowned upon

I weep for you on days when grief took hold,

my plea, and I had no recourse beyond you.

My quest when there was no refuge behind you.

قَد كُنتَ لي سَبَباً وَغَيثاً صائِباً

قَد كُنتَ لي سَبَباً وَغَيثاً صائِباً

وَيَداً أَضُرُّ بِها العَدوَّ وَأَنفَعُ

وَيَداً أَضُرُّ بِها العَدوَّ وَأَنفَعُ

You were indeed my support and life-giving rain pouring down,

You were a cause for me, a pouring rain,

and a hand with which I harmed the enemy and did good.

A hand with which I could smite a foe or do good.

فَاِصعَد إِلى الغُرُفاتِ يَومُكَ واقِعٌ

فَاِصعَد إِلى الغُرُفاتِ يَومُكَ واقِعٌ

بِالشامِتينَ لِكُلِّ جَنبٍ مَصرَعُ

بِالشامِتينَ لِكُلِّ جَنبٍ مَصرَعُ

So ascend to the lofty chambers; your day will befall

So ascend to the upper chambers on the day they fall

those who gloat; every flank has a place to fall.

Upon every side the death of the envious.

هَل أَنسَينَكَ وَكَيفَ يَنساكَ اِمرُؤٌ

هَل أَنسَينَكَ وَكَيفَ يَنساكَ اِمرُؤٌ

بِنَوالِ جودِكَ في الحَياةِ يُمَتَّعُ

بِنَوالِ جودِكَ في الحَياةِ يُمَتَّعُ

Shall I forget you? And how could a man forget you

Can I forget you - how could a man forget

while enjoying the gifts of your generosity in life?

One whose kindness gave life its savour?

فَلَئِن سَلَوتُكَ ما جَزَيتُكَ نِعمَةً

فَلَئِن سَلَوتُكَ ما جَزَيتُكَ نِعمَةً

وَلَئِن جَزِعتُ لَواجِدٌ مَن يَجزَعُ

وَلَئِن جَزِعتُ لَواجِدٌ مَن يَجزَعُ

For if I cease mourning you, I have not repaid your kindness;

So if I have rewarded your favours poorly,

and if I grieve, I shall surely find someone who grieves.

Who else is there to grieve if I should grieve?