بذلت من الود ما كنت قبل

بذلت من الود ما كنت قبل

منعت وأعطيته جزافا

منعت وأعطيته جزافا

You offered the affection you had formerly

I gave of affection what I had not before

You bestowed of affection that which you had once

withheld, and gave it without measure.

I withheld and gave freely

Withheld, and now gave it lavishly without measure;

وما لي به من حاجة عند ذاك

وما لي به من حاجة عند ذاك

ولو جدت قبل بلغت الشفافا

ولو جدت قبل بلغت الشفافا

Yet I had no need of it then;

And I had no need of him at that time

Yet I have no need of it at such a moment—

had you been generous sooner, you would have profited.

And if I had found before, I would have reached clarity

Had you been generous before, you would have reached the depths of my heart.

وما ينفع الطب عند الحمام

وما ينفع الطب عند الحمام

وينفع قبل الردى من تلافي

وينفع قبل الردى من تلافي

Medicine is of no use when death arrives,

And medicine does not help at the peak

For what avails medicine at the hour of death,

but before death, remedial care can help.

And prevention helps before ruin from repairs

When it only brings remedy before ruin, saving one on the brink?