1. شدتي أعظم شدَّهْ

    لا تريح القلبَ مُدَّهْ

    My affliction is the greatest affliction;

    It gives the heart not a moment's rest.

  2. كل يومٍ لي حديثٌ

    همتي تقصرُ عنده

    Every day brings me a new affair;

    My resolve falls short before it.

  3. وهمومٌ تتناسى

    شكرَ مولاي وحمده

    And worries that make me forget

    To thank my Lord and praise Him.

  4. فأنا في الدهر وحدي

    وعدوي الدهرُ وحده

    So I stand alone in time,

    And Time alone is my enemy.

  5. من يقيني من عدوٍّ

    عن وَلاه ليس بُدَّهْ

    Who will shield me from an enemy

    Whose company there is no escaping?

  6. أي يومٍ يا إلهي

    يبلغ المهمومُ رشده

    On what day, O my God,

    Will the careworn man attain sound judgment?

  7. فاهتمامي مستعدٌّ

    وهمومي مستعده

    For my anxiety stands ready,

    And my worries stand ready.

  8. وخطوبٌ وشقاءٌ

    حدُّها يشحذ حده

    And calamities and misery—

    Their edge sharpens its edge.

  9. كلما قلنا استرحنا

    جاءني أعظمُ شِدّة

    Whenever we said, 'We have found rest,'

    A greater affliction came upon me.

  10. وأعزُّ الناس عندي

    صرتُ أشقاهمُ عنده

    And the dearest of people to me—

    I became the most wretched of them in his eyes.

  11. وأخٍ لي في البلايا

    كان لي باللَه عُدَّه

    And a brother of mine in adversity

    Was, by God, a support to me.

  12. راح عني وهو ضدي

    ثم إني رحت ضِدَّه

    He left me, and he was against me;

    Then I, too, turned against him.

  13. حرت مما قد دهاني

    شكوتي للَه وحده

    I am bewildered by what has befallen me;

    My complaint is to God alone.