إِنَّ لِلدَهرِ فَاِعلَمَنَّ عِثارا

إِنَّ لِلدَهرِ فَاِعلَمَنَّ عِثارا

فَإِلى كَم أَما تَرى الأَقدارا

فَإِلى كَم أَما تَرى الأَقدارا

Indeed, time has its stumbles—know this well.

Know that fate ever plays tricks and ruin brings,

How much longer, then? Do you not see the decrees of fate

So how long, methinks, shall we see such strange things?

تَتَوَخّى الأُلّافَ إِلفاً فَإِلفاً

تَتَوَخّى الأُلّافَ إِلفاً فَإِلفاً

وَتُنَقّي الجيرانَ جاراً فَجارا

وَتُنَقّي الجيرانَ جاراً فَجارا

seeking out companions, one companion after another,

It tries hard friendships, sund'ring each from each,

and clearing away neighbors, one neighbor after another?

And parts dear neighbors, leaving breach on breach.

لَو عَقَلنا إِذِ النَهارُ يَسوقُ ال

لَو عَقَلنا إِذِ النَهارُ يَسوقُ ال

لَيلَ وَاللَيلُ إِذ يَسوقُ النَهارا

لَيلَ وَاللَيلُ إِذ يَسوقُ النَهارا

If we understood, as the day drives the

If we had but seen, what time the night did chase

night, and as the night drives the day,

The day, the day the night, in headlong race,

لَرَأَيناهُما بِمَرٍّ حَثيثٍ

لَرَأَيناهُما بِمَرٍّ حَثيثٍ

يَطوِيانِ الأَعمارَ وَالآثارا

يَطوِيانِ الأَعمارَ وَالآثارا

we would see them both, in their swift passage,

How fast they haste by every living soul,

folding away lifespans and traces.

Erasing trace and mark of young and old-

ما اِستَوى الناسُ مُنذُ كانوا أُناساً

ما اِستَوى الناسُ مُنذُ كانوا أُناساً

خَلَقَ اللَهُ خَلقَهُ أَطوارا

خَلَقَ اللَهُ خَلقَهُ أَطوارا

People have never been alike for as long as they have been human;

Men were not equal when the race began;

God created His creatures in differing states.

God made them different types in His wise plan.

مَن رَأى عِبرَةً فَفَكَّرَ فيها

مَن رَأى عِبرَةً فَفَكَّرَ فيها

لَم يَزِدهُ التَفكيرُ إِلّا اِعتِبارا

لَم يَزِدهُ التَفكيرُ إِلّا اِعتِبارا

Whoever sees a lesson and then reflects upon it,

Who learns life's lessons will increasing know

reflection only makes him take greater heed.

How little learning profits man below.