أُعَاتِبُ دَهْراً لاَ يُصيخُ إلَى عَتْبِ

أُعَاتِبُ دَهْراً لاَ يُصيخُ إلَى عَتْبِ

وَأَسْأَلُهُ صَفْحاً وَمَالَي مِنْ ذَنْبِ

وَأَسْأَلُهُ صَفْحاً وَمَالَي مِنْ ذَنْبِ

I reproach Time, which heeds no reproach,

I reproach a fate that lends no ear to blame,

and ask it for pardon, though I have done no wrong.

And from whom I ask pardon, though no crime I claim.

وَأُعْلِنُ بِالشَّكْوَى إِلَى غَيْرَ رَاحِمٍ

وَأُعْلِنُ بِالشَّكْوَى إِلَى غَيْرَ رَاحِمٍ

فَأَشْكُو وَقَدْ عَزَّ الْعَزَاءُ إِلَى رَبِّي

فَأَشْكُو وَقَدْ عَزَّ الْعَزَاءُ إِلَى رَبِّي

And I voice my complaint to one who shows no mercy;

I give my plaint to one who has no pity for my pain.

so I complain to my Lord, now that consolation is hard to find.

So I complain, but finding no comforter but God again.

أَبَا حَسَنٍ مَا لِلزَّمَانِ يَنُوشُنِي

أَبَا حَسَنٍ مَا لِلزَّمَانِ يَنُوشُنِي

كَأَنَّكَ لَمْ تَعْلَمْ بِوُدَّي وَلا حُبِّي

كَأَنَّكَ لَمْ تَعْلَمْ بِوُدَّي وَلا حُبِّي

O Abu Hasan, why does Time assail me,

O Abu Hasan, why does time treat me so?

as though you knew neither my affection nor my love?

As though my love and longing you didn’t know!

وَمَنْ لِي بِأَقْوَامٍ عَلَيَّ تَأَلَّبُوا

وَمَنْ لِي بِأَقْوَامٍ عَلَيَّ تَأَلَّبُوا

أُسَالِمُهُمْ دَهْرِي وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي حَرْبِي

أُسَالِمُهُمْ دَهْرِي وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي حَرْبِي

And who will aid me against people who have banded against me?

Who will help me against the hordes that attack?

I keep peace with them all my life, while they strive to wage war on me.

I face them through my days and they hound me without slack.

وَأَنْتَ عَلِيٌّ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ تَشَيُّعِي

وَأَنْتَ عَلِيٌّ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ تَشَيُّعِي

فكُنْ نَاصِريِ وَأدْرَأَ جُمْوعَ بَنِي حَرْبِ

فكُنْ نَاصِريِ وَأدْرَأَ جُمْوعَ بَنِي حَرْبِ

And you are Ali; you know full well my allegiance.

You know my adherence, O Ali, to your crew,

So be my champion, and repel the hosts of Banu Harb.

So be my helper and drive back that warring crew!