1. When misfortune befalls you, then talk,
For talking makes people forget calamities,
١. إِذا ما عَراكُم حادِثٌ فَتَحَدَّثوا
فَإِنَّ حَديثَ القَومِ يُنسي المَصائِبا
2. And avoid frivolous things out of fear of their evil,
For pleasures were not created but as consolations,
٢. وَحيدوا عَنِ الأَشياءِ خيفَةَ غَيِّها
فَلَم تُجعَلِ اللَذاتُ إِلّا نَصائِبا
3. And time keeps passing heedlessly,
Directing an arrow at death unerringly.
٣. وَما زالَتِ الأَيّامُ وَهيَ غَوافِلٌ
تُسَدِّدُ سَهماً لِلمَنِيَّةِ صائِبا