ولَمّاand when أَتَيتُI came to الناسَthe people أَطلُبُseeking عِندَهُمamong them
ولَمّا أَتَيتُ الناسَ أَطلُبُ عِندَهُم
أَخاa brother ثِقَةٍtrustworthiness عِندَat the time of اِبتِلاءِthe trial of الشَدائِدِhardships
أَخا ثِقَةٍ عِندَ اِبتِلاءِ الشَدائِدِ
And when I came to people, seeking among them
a trustworthy brother in the trials of adversity,
تَقَلَّبتُI passed through changing fortunes فيin دَهريmy lifetime رَخاءًease وَشِدَّةًand hardship
تَقَلَّبتُ في دَهري رَخاءً وَشِدَّةً
وَنادَيتُand I called out فيamong الأَحياءِthe communities هَلis there مِنany مُساعِدِhelper
وَنادَيتُ في الأَحياءِ هَل مِن مُساعِدِ
I passed through ease and hardship in my lifetime,
and called out among the communities: “Is there anyone to help?”
فَلَمso … not أَرىI saw فيماin what ساءَنيgrieved me غَيرَother than شامِتٍone who gloats at misfortune
فَلَم أَرى فيما ساءَني غَيرَ شامِتٍ
وَلَمand … not أَرَI saw فيماin what سَرَّنيgladdened me غَيرَother than حاسِدِone who envies
وَلَم أَرَ فيما سَرَّني غَيرَ حاسِدِ
So, in what grieved me, I saw none but one who gloated,
and in what gladdened me, I saw none but one who envied.