رعى اللَه دهراً فات لم أقض حقه

رعى اللَه دهراً فات لم أقض حقه

وقد كنت طباً بالأمور مجربا

وقد كنت طباً بالأمور مجربا

May God preserve a bygone time whose due I did not pay,

God nurtured an era long past whose rights I did not fulfill,

though I was well versed in affairs, seasoned by experience.

Though I was gentle in my ways, experienced in life's affairs.

ليالي ما كانت رياحك شمالاً

ليالي ما كانت رياحك شمالاً

علي ولا كانت بروقك خلبا

علي ولا كانت بروقك خلبا

Nights when your winds were not north winds

Those nights when your winds weren't northerly toward me

against me, nor was your lightning rainless.

Nor your lightning hostile.

ليالي وفيت الهوى فوق حقه

ليالي وفيت الهوى فوق حقه

وفاءً وظرفاً صادقاً وتأدبا

وفاءً وظرفاً صادقاً وتأدبا

Nights when you gave love more than its due,

Nights when I was true to love beyond its due,

in loyalty, genuine grace, and courtesy.

With a loyalty, a sincerity, and a courtesy.

فلم أر وداً عاد ذنباً وقد مضت

فلم أر وداً عاد ذنباً وقد مضت

له حقب يشجي بذكراه من صبا

له حقب يشجي بذكراه من صبا

Yet I have never seen affection become an offense, though it had endured

I've never seen affection that returned as sin, though epochs have passed,

for ages, its memory grieving anyone who has loved.

Lacerating the heart of one who yearned in youth.

ولم أر سهماً هتك الدرع وانتهى

ولم أر سهماً هتك الدرع وانتهى

إلى القلب قدماً ثم قصر أو نبا

إلى القلب قدماً ثم قصر أو نبا

Nor have I seen an arrow pierce the armor and reach

Nor have I seen an arrow rend armor and proceed

the heart directly, then fall short or miss its mark.

Straight to the heart, then fall short or turn away.

ولا عذر للصمصام أن بلغ الحشا

ولا عذر للصمصام أن بلغ الحشا

وكل ولم يثلم له العظم مضربا

وكل ولم يثلم له العظم مضربا

Nor is there an excuse for the keen sword that has reached the entrails

No excuse for a swordsman if he's reached the foe

and grown dull, though no bone has nicked its striking edge;

Yet failed to make his blade strike home.

ولا لجوادٍ سابق الريح سالماً

ولا لجوادٍ سابق الريح سالماً

وقام فأعيا بل تقطر أو كبا

وقام فأعيا بل تقطر أو كبا

nor for a steed that raced the wind unharmed,

No excuse for a steed outstripping the wind, sound of limb,

and halted, then grew exhausted—nay, fell on its side or stumbled.

Who falters or drips sweat or stumbles.

فأني بعذرٍ في أطراحي وجفوتي

فأني بعذرٍ في أطراحي وجفوتي

ونقض عهودٍ أكدت زمن الصبا

ونقض عهودٍ أكدت زمن الصبا

Then what excuse is there for casting me aside and shunning me,

What argument have I for my failings and coolness

and breaking pledges confirmed in the days of youth?

And covenants made firm in the days of youth now betrayed?

إذا عوقب الجاني على قدر جرمه

إذا عوقب الجاني على قدر جرمه

فتعنيفه بعد العقاب من الربا

فتعنيفه بعد العقاب من الربا

When an offender is punished in proportion to his offense,

When a sinner is punished according to his crime

then berating him after punishment is a form of usury.

Reproaching him after punishment is usury.