كانَwas مَتَاعِيmy possession إذاwhenever استَعَنْتُI sought help بهِfrom it
كانَ مَتَاعِي إذا استَعَنْتُ بهِ
فيwith حَاجَةٍa need أَعجَزَتْhad defeated ذَوِيthose endowed with الهِمَمِresolve
في حَاجَةٍ أَعجَزَتْ ذَوِي الهِمَمِ
My possession, whenever I sought its aid,
When I sought his aid in some grave need, he stood to give me of his help with all good speed.
with a need that had defeated men of resolve,
Though I was helpless, void of all resource, he laboured night and day and stayed no course, until the matter ended to my wish.
قَامَrose بِأَمْرِيto attend to my affairs وَقَدwhile already قَعَدْتُI had sat down بهِwith it
قَامَ بِأَمْرِي وَقَد قَعَدْتُ بهِ
وَنِمْتُand I slept عَنheedless of حَاجتيmy need وَلَمْand did not يَنَمِsleep
وَنِمْتُ عَن حَاجتي وَلَمْ يَنَمِ
would rise to attend to my affairs while I sat with it,
Now slumber in my need how sweet is slumber!
and I slept, heedless of my need, while it did not sleep.
Partial English translation: 3 of 4 Arabic lines translated.