إِلى اللهِ أَشكوُ عيشَةً قَد تنكَّدتْ

إِلى اللهِ أَشكوُ عيشَةً قَد تنكَّدتْ

عَلَيَّ ودهراً قد ألَحَّت نوائِبُهْ

عَلَيَّ ودهراً قد ألَحَّت نوائِبُهْ

To God I complain of a life that has grown bitter

I complain to God of a life that has become miserable

for me, and of an age whose calamities have been relentless.

And a time whose calamities have insisted upon me

تكَدّرَ من بَعْدِ الصّفاءِ نميرُهُ

تكَدّرَ من بَعْدِ الصّفاءِ نميرُهُ

وأَحزَنَ من بَعْد السُّهولةِ جانِبُهْ

وأَحزَنَ من بَعْد السُّهولةِ جانِبُهْ

Its sweet water grew turbid after being clear,

Its prosperity has been disturbed after serenity

and its side grew rugged after being smooth.

And its good fortune has become sorrowful after ease

وقَصَّرَ كَفّي عن نَوالٍ تُنيلهُ

وقَصَّرَ كَفّي عن نَوالٍ تُنيلهُ

وزَاولَها عن نيلِ ما أَنا طالِبُهْ

وزَاولَها عن نيلِ ما أَنا طالِبُهْ

And it kept my hand from the bounty it would bestow,

My hands have been shortened from gaining what they used to gain

and diverted it from attaining what I seek.

And they have been prevented from attaining what I seek