يا مَن إِذا عارِضٌ تعرَّضَ بي

يا مَن إِذا عارِضٌ تعرَّضَ بي

بادَرَه جودُ كفِّه طَرقَه

بادَرَه جودُ كفِّه طَرقَه

O you who, whenever an affliction besets me,

O you who when an adversary confronts me

forestall its knock with the bounty of your hand.

His generous palm hastens to help me

لا فرجٌ في العُلى أبا فَرجٍ

لا فرجٌ في العُلى أبا فَرجٍ

ما لَم تكُن من عُلاكَ مُسترقَه

ما لَم تكُن من عُلاكَ مُسترقَه

There is no relief in lofty rank, Abu Faraj,

There is no relief in high places, Abu Faraj

unless it is stolen from your own eminence.

Unless it comes from your highness unsolicited

باكرتُ أشكُو المُباكِرينَ غَداً

باكرتُ أشكُو المُباكِرينَ غَداً

في فِرَقٍ لِلسَّلامِ مُفتَرقَه

في فِرَقٍ لِلسَّلامِ مُفتَرقَه

I have come early to complain of tomorrow’s early callers,

Tomorrow morning I will complain of the early risers

in scattered groups to offer greetings.

When the peace delegation disperses in groups

قد نَصبُوني لتَهنِياتِهم

قد نَصبُوني لتَهنِياتِهم

أسَمعُ من كلِّ واحدٍ وَرقَه

أسَمعُ من كلِّ واحدٍ وَرقَه

They have made me the target of their congratulations;

They make me the target of their congratulations

I hear a page from each one.

I hear papers rustling from each one

مُرهُم بأَن يَقصُدوا سِوايَ بِها

مُرهُم بأَن يَقصُدوا سِوايَ بِها

فَغَيرُ عيدٍ عيدٌ بِلا نَفَقَه

فَغَيرُ عيدٍ عيدٌ بِلا نَفَقَه

Tell them to take it to someone else,

Order them to direct their course away from me

for a feast without expense is no feast.

For a feast without expense is no feast

عَوائدٌ لم تَزَل تُعاوِدُني

عَوائدٌ لم تَزَل تُعاوِدُني

واليومَ جدَّت فشدَّت الطَّبَقَه

واليومَ جدَّت فشدَّت الطَّبَقَه

Customs have never ceased revisiting me,

Things that persist in recurring to me

and today they have intensified and tightened the snare.

And today they have intensified and drawn closer