إذاif ضاقتclosed in الدنياthe world عليَّupon me برحبهاdespite its vastness
إذا ضاقت الدنيا عليَّ برحبها
وباتتand began أصحابcompanions الشبيبةyouth تلحانيreproaching me
وباتت أصحاب الشبيبة تلحاني
If the world, for all its vastness, closes in on me,
When life oppresses me with all its vastness
And the companions of my youth begin reproaching me,
And the companions of youth begin to blame me
فلستso I am not بمنone who يرضىis content بإفراجwith relief from غمةٍanguish
فلست بمن يرضى بإفراج غمةٍ
إذاif كانis كشفthe lifting of الغمsorrow منfrom كفthe hand of إنسانِa human being
إذا كان كشف الغم من كف إنسانِ
Then I am not one to accept relief from anguish,
I am not one who is pleased to have a sorrow dispelled
If the lifting of sorrow comes from a human hand.
If relieving that grief lies in the hand of man