ويحيwoe to me منbecause of الحظِّfortune كمhow often أحاولهI pursue it
ويحي من الحظِّ كم أحاوله
فيin دهرِناour age وهوwhile it حائدٌturning aside عنِّيfrom me
في دهرِنا وهو حائدٌ عنِّي
Woe is me because of fortune—how often I pursue it
In our age, while it turns aside from me.
يظنُّنيit thinks me عاقلاًwise كماas زعمواthey have claimed
يظنُّني عاقلاً كما زعموا
فهوso it علىon the basis of الظنِّthe assumption نافرٌshying away عنِّيfrom me
فهو على الظنِّ نافرٌ عنِّي
It thinks me wise, as they have claimed;
So, on that assumption, it shies away from me.