إلى اللهِ أشكُو اتِّصالَ الخُطوبِ

إلى اللهِ أشكُو اتِّصالَ الخُطوبِ

وصَرفَ زَمانٍ بُلينا بِه

وصَرفَ زَمانٍ بُلينا بِه

To God I complain of unceasing calamities

To God I complain of the persistence of sorrows,

and the vicissitudes of an age with which we have been afflicted.

And of the passing of time which has worn us out.

يَشُّ إلى النَّبَهِ المُستَذَلِّ

يَشُّ إلى النَّبَهِ المُستَذَلِّ

وينبو عن السَّيِّدِ النَّابِهِ

وينبو عن السَّيِّدِ النَّابِهِ

It [smiles] upon the notable man held in contempt,

It inclines toward the mean and despicable,

and recoils from the distinguished lord.

And turns away from the noble and eminent.

وقد كانَ يَبِسمُ عن ثَغْرِه

وقد كانَ يَبِسمُ عن ثَغْرِه

فأصبحَ يَكْشِرُ عنْ نابِهِ

فأصبحَ يَكْشِرُ عنْ نابِهِ

Once it smiled, showing its teeth;

Once it would smile from its countenance,

now it snarls, baring its fang.

Now it bares its fangs.

الدَّهُر سِلْمٌ لِكُلَّ نَذلٍ

الدَّهُر سِلْمٌ لِكُلَّ نَذلٍ

لكِنَّه للكِرامِ حَرْبُ

لكِنَّه للكِرامِ حَرْبُ

Time is at peace with every base man,

Fate is submissive to every despicable person,

but at war with the noble.

Yet for the noble it is nothing but war.

فارْثِ لِذي حِكمةٍ وإرْبٍ

فارْثِ لِذي حِكمةٍ وإرْبٍ

فحظُّهُ غُمَّةٌ وكَرْبُ

فحظُّهُ غُمَّةٌ وكَرْبُ

So pity the man of wisdom and discernment:

So inherit, O you of wisdom and dignity,

for his lot is sorrow and anguish.

For your share is gloom and misery.

هِمَّتهُ للسِّماكِ سَمْكٌ

هِمَّتهُ للسِّماكِ سَمْكٌ

وخَدُّهُ للتُّرابِ تِرْبُ

وخَدُّهُ للتُّرابِ تِرْبُ

His ambition towers toward al-Simāk,

Its goal is to make the lofty one dust,

while his cheek is the dust’s companion.

And its cheek is thrust to the ground.