وَلَمّا تَخَيَّرتِ الأَخِلّاءَ لَم أَجِد

وَلَمّا تَخَيَّرتِ الأَخِلّاءَ لَم أَجِد

صَبوراً عَلى حِفظِ المَوَدَّةِ وَالعَهدِ

صَبوراً عَلى حِفظِ المَوَدَّةِ وَالعَهدِ

And when I chose close friends, I found no one

When you chose intimates, I could not find

steadfast in preserving affection and the pledge,

One steadfast at preserving love and pact,

سَليماً عَلى طَيِّ الزَمانِ وَنَشرِهِ

سَليماً عَلى طَيِّ الزَمانِ وَنَشرِهِ

أَميناً عَلى النَجوى صَحيحاً عَلى البُعدِ

أَميناً عَلى النَجوى صَحيحاً عَلى البُعدِ

unblemished through time’s folding and unfolding,

Sound regarding time's vicissitudes and unfolding,

trustworthy with confidences, true despite distance.

Trustworthy of whispers, true despite the distance.

وَلَمّا أَساءَ الظَنَّ بي مَن جَعَلتُهُ

وَلَمّا أَساءَ الظَنَّ بي مَن جَعَلتُهُ

وَإِيّايَ مِثلَ الكَفِّ نيطَت إِلى الزِندِ

وَإِيّايَ مِثلَ الكَفِّ نيطَت إِلى الزِندِ

And when he thought ill of me—he whom I had made

When those I had befriended mistrusted me,

one with myself, like a hand joined to the wrist—

Like palms bound at the wrists,

حَمَلتُ عَلى ضَنّي بِهِ سوءَ ظَنِّهِ

حَمَلتُ عَلى ضَنّي بِهِ سوءَ ظَنِّهِ

وَأَيقَنتُ أَنّي بِالوَفا أُمَّةٌ وَحدي

وَأَيقَنتُ أَنّي بِالوَفا أُمَّةٌ وَحدي

despite my attachment to him, I bore his ill opinion,

I bore their mistrust with resignation

and knew for certain that in fidelity I was a nation all by myself,

And knew I alone was true in loyalty.

وَأَنّي عَلى الحالَينِ في العَتبِ وَالرِضى

وَأَنّي عَلى الحالَينِ في العَتبِ وَالرِضى

مُقيمٌ عَلى ماكانَ يَعرِفُ مَن وُدّي

مُقيمٌ عَلى ماكانَ يَعرِفُ مَن وُدّي

and that, in both states—in reproach and in contentment—

In blame and pleasure both steadfast am I

I remained steadfast in the affection he had known from me.

As was known by those familiar with my love.