ما لي أُقَرِّبُ مِنكَ نَفسي جاهِداً

ما لي أُقَرِّبُ مِنكَ نَفسي جاهِداً

وَأَراكَ مِنّي جاهِداً تَتَباعَدُ

وَأَراكَ مِنّي جاهِداً تَتَباعَدُ

Why do I strive to draw myself close to you,

Why do I strive to draw near to you

while I see you striving to draw away from me?

When I see you striving to distance yourself from me?

قَدَّمتَ دونَ أَخيكَ مَن هُوَ دونَهُ

قَدَّمتَ دونَ أَخيكَ مَن هُوَ دونَهُ

وَعَنِدتَ عنهُ وَهوَ مِنكَ يُعانِدُ

وَعَنِدتَ عنهُ وَهوَ مِنكَ يُعانِدُ

You have placed ahead of your brother one who is beneath him,

You have favored one inferior to your brother

and you have turned away from him, while he keeps aloof from you.

And spurned him though he contends with you

أَيأَستَني بَعدَ الرَجاءِ فَمَن ترى

أَيأَستَني بَعدَ الرَجاءِ فَمَن ترى

يَرجوكَ بَعدي أَو عَلَيكَ يُحاسِدُ

يَرجوكَ بَعدي أَو عَلَيكَ يُحاسِدُ

You have made me despair after hope; who, do you think,

After hope, do you despair of me? Then who

will hope in you after me, or vie jealously for you?

After me still hopes in you or envies you?

أَم كَيفَ يَأمُلُ مِنكَ يَوماً صالِحاً

أَم كَيفَ يَأمُلُ مِنكَ يَوماً صالِحاً

أَحَدٌ وَرَأيُكَ فِيَّ رَأيٌ فاسِدُ

أَحَدٌ وَرَأيُكَ فِيَّ رَأيٌ فاسِدُ

Or how can a good day be hoped for from you

Or how can anyone expect from you one day

by anyone, when your judgment of me is unsound?

A favor when your judgment of me is so corrupt?