طال عتب الزمان ظلماً علينا

طال عتب الزمان ظلماً علينا

وجفانا فما له إعتابُ

وجفانا فما له إعتابُ

Time's unjust reproach of us has lasted long,

Long has time's reproach oppressed us unjustly

The unjust reproach of time upon us has grown long,

And it has shunned us; there is no appeasing it.

And turned away, heedless of our plaint

And it has forsaken us, offering no amends.

فأجرنا من عتبه وأذاه

فأجرنا من عتبه وأذاه

أنت ترجى لمثله وتهابُ

أنت ترجى لمثله وتهابُ

So shelter us from its reproach and harm;

Save us from his rebuke and injury

So grant us refuge from its blame and its harm,

You are looked to with hope in such adversity, and feared.

You alone we hope for and fear

You are the one hoped for in such trials, and held in awe.

ما لنا منصف سواك فيشكى

ما لنا منصف سواك فيشكى

أنت كالنصل والملوك قرابُ

أنت كالنصل والملوك قرابُ

We have no one to grant us justice but you, to whom we may complain;

We have no champion but you we complain to

We have no just arbiter but you to whom we may complain,

You are like the blade, and kings are the scabbard.

You are the blade, the kings but kin

You are like the blade, and the kings are but the scabbard.