تجرمتyou found fault ليwith me فيfor غيرno جرمoffense علمتهI knew of it
تجرمت لي في غير جرم علمته
سوىexcept أنthat يكونbe الدهرtime بيtoward me قدalready تغيراchanged
سوى أن يكون الدهر بي قد تغيرا
You accused me of wrongdoing, though I knew of none,
I am blamed for no crime I committed
unless it be that time has turned against me.
Except that time itself has changed against me
فأقبلthen it came بالأعداءwith the enemies منfrom كلevery جانبside
فأقبل بالأعداء من كل جانب
عليupon me وولىand it turned away بالصديقwith the friend فأغبراthen it raised dust
علي وولى بالصديق فأغبرا
Then it brought enemies from every side
Enemies now come at me from all sides
upon me, and departed with my friend, raising dust.
While friends have deserted and ignored me
وقدand indeed كنتyou were ليfor me عوناًa help علىagainst الدهرtime ناصراًa defender
وقد كنت لي عوناً على الدهر ناصراً
عزيزاًmighty وغيثاًand rain كلماwhenever شئتI wished أمطراit rained
عزيزاً وغيثاً كلما شئت أمطرا
And you had been my help against time, a defender,
You were my help against the days of life
mighty, and rain that fell whenever I wished.
My strength and rain whenever I wanted a shower
وماand not كنتyou were غداراًtreacherous كفوراًungrateful فلاso do not تكنbe
وما كنت غداراً كفوراً فلا تكن
بصاحبكtoward your companion الوافيthe faithful أعقmore disloyal وأغدراand more treacherous
بصاحبك الوافي أعق وأغدرا
You were not treacherous or ungrateful, so do not be
I was never treacherous or ungrateful
more disloyal and more treacherous toward your faithful companion.
So do not be harsh or cruel to your faithful friend
فماfor ... not أنتyou إلاbut منof زمانكyour age إنهindeed, it is
فما أنت إلا من زمانك إنه
زمانan age جفتgrew distant خلانهits friends وتنكراand it turned hostile
زمان جفت خلانه وتنكرا
For you are simply of your own time; indeed, it is
For you are but a product of your time
an age whose friends have grown distant, and which has turned hostile.
An age whose intimates have dried up and become estranged