1. How many a kingdom have I seen displease me,
Then pass away as though it had never been.
١. كَمْ وَكَمْ دولةٍ تبرمْتُ منها
ثم زالتْ كأنَّها لمْ تكنْها
2. And when the blessings of the unjust flow away,
Beware of grabbing them, for they cannot last.
٢. وإذا نعمةُ الظلومِ تداعتْ
لزوالٍ فاحذرْ منَ الذبِّ عنها