كمhow often يهتكrends الدهرTime ستريmy veil ثمthen أسترهI cover it
كم يهتك الدهر ستري ثم أستره
وكمand how often يقابلmeets إقباليmy advance بإدبارwith retreat
وكم يقابل إقبالي بإدبار
How often Time rends my veil, and then I cover it again;
How many times fate unveils then veils me again,
And how often it meets my advance with retreat.
And counters my prosperity with loss.
وكلماand whenever رمتI sought منهfrom it مخلصاًan escape قعدتheld back
وكلما رمت منه مخلصاً قعدت
بيme العوائقthe obstacles بينbetween البابthe door والدارand the house
بي العوائق بين الباب والدار
And whenever I seek an escape from it, I am held back
Whenever I seek deliverance from it,
By obstacles between the door and the house.
Obstacles rise between me and my goal.