إِلى اللَهِ كُلُّ الأَمرِ في الخَلقِ كُلِّهِ

وَلَيسَ إِلى المَخلوقِ شَيءٌ مِنَ الأَمرِ

To God belongs all command in all creation

And nothing of command belongs to any creature

إِذا أَنا لَم أَقبَل مِنَ الدَهرِ كُلَّ ما

تَكَرَّهتُ مِنهُ طالَ عَتبي عَلى الدَهرِ

Whenever I do not accept from time all that

I dislike about it, my blame on time is prolonged

تَعَوَّدتُ مَسَّ الضُرِّ حَتّى أَلِفتُهُ

وَأَحوَجَني طولُ العَزاءِ إِلى الصَبرِ

I became accustomed to the touch of harm until I was intimate with it

And the length of consolation made me more patient

وَوَسَّعَ صَبري بِالأَذى الأُنسُ بِالأَذى

وَقَد كُنتُ أَحياناً يَضيقُ بِهِ صدَري

And my patience was expanded by the familiarity with harm

Though sometimes it would constrict my chest

وَصَيَّرَني يَأسي مِنَ الناسِ راجِياً

لِسُرعَةِ لُطفِ اللَهِ مِن حَيثُ لا أَدري

And my despair of people made me hopeful

For the quick subtle kindness of God from where I know not