لَو أَنَّني لَكَ في الأَهواءِ مُختارُ

لَو أَنَّني لَكَ في الأَهواءِ مُختارُ

لَما جَرَت بِالَّذي تَشكوهُ أَقدارُ

لَما جَرَت بِالَّذي تَشكوهُ أَقدارُ

If I were free to choose for you in matters of desire,

If I could choose for you among desires

Fate would not have brought about what you lament.

What has befallen you would not have occurred

لَكِنَّها فِتَنٌ في مِثلِ غَيهَبِها

لَكِنَّها فِتَنٌ في مِثلِ غَيهَبِها

تَعمى البَصائِرُ إِن لَم تَعمَ أَبصارُ

تَعمى البَصائِرُ إِن لَم تَعمَ أَبصارُ

But these are trials; in darkness like theirs,

But these are tribulations, in times like these

Inner sight goes blind, even if the eyes do not.

Sights are blinded, if sights themselves aren't blinded

فَأَحسِنِ الظَنِّ لا تَرتَب بِعَهدِ فَتىً

فَأَحسِنِ الظَنِّ لا تَرتَب بِعَهدِ فَتىً

تَعفو العُهودُ وَتَبقى مِنهُ آثارُ

تَعفو العُهودُ وَتَبقى مِنهُ آثارُ

So think the best; do not doubt a young man's pledge:

So think well, do not doubt the pledge of a gallant man

The ages fade, yet traces of him remain.

Pledges pass, yet their traces remain

لَو كانَ يُعطى المُنى في الأَمرِ يُمكِنُهُ

لَو كانَ يُعطى المُنى في الأَمرِ يُمكِنُهُ

لَما أَغَبَّكَ يَوماً مِنهُ زَوّارُ

لَما أَغَبَّكَ يَوماً مِنهُ زَوّارُ

If he were granted his wishes in a matter within his power,

If wishes were granted in every matter as one desires

Then not a day would pass without a visitor from him.

He would not be away from you a single day, visitors

فَلا يُريبَنكَ في ذِكرِ الصَديقِ بِهِ

فَلا يُريبَنكَ في ذِكرِ الصَديقِ بِهِ

مَن لَيسَ يَجهَلُ أَنَّ الدَهرَ دَوّارُ

مَن لَيسَ يَجهَلُ أَنَّ الدَهرَ دَوّارُ

So do not be made to doubt him at the mention of the friend,

So let not anyone make you doubt, in remembering a friend

By one who knows that fortune is ever turning.

One who doesn't know that time is fickle