تَحَيَّفَ حالَتِي حَيفُ الزَّمانِ

تَحَيَّفَ حالَتِي حَيفُ الزَّمانِ

وَصِدْقُ اليَاسِ مِن كذِبِ الأَمانِي

وَصِدْقُ اليَاسِ مِن كذِبِ الأَمانِي

Time's injustice has diminished my lot,

My state has been distorted by the injustice of time,

And despair proves true because hopes lie.

And the truth of despair from the lies of wishes.

وَبَرت فِي أَلِيَّتِهَا الليالِي

وَبَرت فِي أَلِيَّتِهَا الليالِي

بِتَرْويعِي فَأَنَّى بِالأَمانِ

بِتَرْويعِي فَأَنَّى بِالأَمانِ

And the nights have kept their oath,

The nights have excelled in frightening me,

By terrifying me—so where is safety?

So where can I find safety?

أَمَا قنعت وَقَدْ كَلِفَت بِهَضْمِي

أَمَا قنعت وَقَدْ كَلِفَت بِهَضْمِي

وَضَيْمِي دُونَ أَبناءِ البَيانِ

وَضَيْمِي دُونَ أَبناءِ البَيانِ

Have they not had enough, so enamored of wronging me,

Have I not been content while burdened with my grief,

And oppressing me alone among the sons of eloquence?

And my distress among the eloquent?

أُحاوِلُ أَن أَقومَ لِمَا يُوَاتِي

أُحاوِلُ أَن أَقومَ لِمَا يُوَاتِي

فَتُقْعِدُنِي الخُطُوبُ بِلا تَوانِي

فَتُقْعِدُنِي الخُطُوبُ بِلا تَوانِي

I try to rise to whatever proves favorable,

I try to stand up to what comes my way,

But calamities force me down without delay.

But calamities make me sit without haste.

وَأَطْباقُ الثرَى بِالحُرِّ أَحْرَى

وَأَطْباقُ الثرَى بِالحُرِّ أَحْرَى

إِذا أَلْفَى الثراءَ مِنَ الهَوانِ

إِذا أَلْفَى الثراءَ مِنَ الهَوانِ

And layers of earth better befit a noble man,

And the darkness of soil is more burning

If he finds that wealth comes through humiliation.

When it finds ease from disgrace.

فَهَلْ مِنْ آخِذٍ بِيَدي أخيذٍ

فَهَلْ مِنْ آخِذٍ بِيَدي أخيذٍ

بِعَينِ اللَّهِ شدّةُ ما يُعانِي

بِعَينِ اللَّهِ شدّةُ ما يُعانِي

So is there anyone to take a captive by the hands?

Is there anyone who will take me by the hand?

Under God's eye lies the severity of what he endures.

By God, the intensity of what I suffer!

أَيا مَا أَشتَكِيهِ من أَيامِي

أَيا مَا أَشتَكِيهِ من أَيامِي

عوَارٍ فِي يَدِ البَلوَى عَوانِي

عوَارٍ فِي يَدِ البَلوَى عَوانِي

O those days of mine that I lament—

Whatever I complain of from my days,

Naked, captives in affliction's hand.

Faulty in the hands of afflictions, hurting me.

وَمَا أَبغِي عَلَى تَلَفِي دَلِيلاً

وَمَا أَبغِي عَلَى تَلَفِي دَلِيلاً

كَفانِي أَننِي حَيٌّ كَفانِي

كَفانِي أَننِي حَيٌّ كَفانِي

And I seek no proof of my ruin:

And I do not want a guide to my demise,

It is enough for me that I am alive—enough.

It is enough that I live, it is enough.