يا صاحِبِي قُمْ فَقد أَطَلْنَا

أَنَحْنُ طُولَ المَدى هُجُودُ

O my friend, arise, for we have lingered long

Are we to be humiliated all our days?

فقالَ لي لن نَقُومَ منها

ما دامَ مِن فَوْقِنا الصَّعِيدُ

He said to me, we shall not depart from here

As long as the barren land lies over us

تذكُرُ كَمْ لَيْلَةٍ لَهَوْنا

في ظِلِّهَا والزَّمَانُ عِيدُ

Remember how many a night we enjoyed

In its shade, and time was festive

وكَمْ سُرُورٍ هَمَى علَيْنَا

سحابةً ثرّةً تجُودُ

And how much gladness hovered over us

Like an abundant, generous cloud

كُلٌّ كأَنْ لم يكُنْ تَقَضَّى

وشُؤمُه حاضِرٌ عَتِيدُ

Each as if what had passed was never fulfilled

And his misfortune is present, imminent

حصَّلَه كاتِبٌ حَفِيظٌ

وضمَّهُ صادِقٌ شَهِيدُ

A vigilant scribe has recorded it

And a truthful, witnessing confidant has collected it

يا وَيْلَنَا إِنْ تَنَكَّبَتْنَا

رَحْمَةُ مَن بَطْشُهُ شَدِيدُ

Oh woe to us, if the mercy of Him whose might is great

Turns away from us

يا ربِّ عفْواً فأَنْتَ موْلىً

قَصَّر في أَمْرِكَ العبيدُ

O Lord, pardon, for You are Master

Your servants fall short in Your cause