وَليAnd I have صاحِبٌa friend ماnot خفتI feared مِنfrom جَورِthe cruelty of حادِثٍa misfortune
وَلي صاحِبٌ ما خفت مِن جَورِ حادِثٍ
مِنَfrom الدَهرِtime إِلّاexcept that كانَhe was ليfor me مِنfrom وَرائِهِbehind it
مِنَ الدَهرِ إِلّا كانَ لي مِن وَرائِهِ
And I have a friend: never have I feared a misfortune’s cruelty
I have a friend, I fear no tyranny
From time without his being there for me behind it.
Of fickle fortune, for I know that he
إِذاwhen عَضَّنيit bites me صَرفُthe vicissitudes of الزَمانِtime فَإِنَّنيthen indeed I
إِذا عَضَّني صَرفُ الزَمانِ فَإِنَّني
بِراياتِهِwith his banners أَسطوI assail عَلَيهِit وَرائِهِbehind him
بِراياتِهِ أَسطو عَلَيهِ وَرائِهِ
When time’s vicissitudes bite me, then I
Stands behind me, and so if time should turn
Assail it beneath his banners, behind him.
Against me, by his flags I shall return