يا مَن يُسَرُّ بِنَفسِهِ وَشَبابِهِ

يا مَن يُسَرُّ بِنَفسِهِ وَشَبابِهِ

أَنّى سُرِرتَ وَأَنتَ في خُلَسِ الرَدى

أَنّى سُرِرتَ وَأَنتَ في خُلَسِ الرَدى

O you who delight in yourself and your youth,

O you who rejoice in your youth and vigor

How can you rejoice while in death’s stealthy grasp?

How can you rejoice when you are sliding into the pit of decay?

أَهلَ القُبورِ لا تَواصُلَ بَينَكُم

أَهلَ القُبورِ لا تَواصُلَ بَينَكُم

مَن ماتَ أَصبَحَ هَبلُهُ رَثَّ القُوى

مَن ماتَ أَصبَحَ هَبلُهُ رَثَّ القُوى

O dwellers of the graves, there is no communion among you.

The people of the graves, there is no connection between you

Whoever dies—his [unclear term] becomes worn and weak.

Whoever dies, his strength becomes frail, his vigor diminished

يا مَن أَقامَ وَقَد مَضى إِخوانُهُ

يا مَن أَقامَ وَقَد مَضى إِخوانُهُ

ما أَنتَ إِلّا واحِدٌ مِمَّن مَضى

ما أَنتَ إِلّا واحِدٌ مِمَّن مَضى

O you who remain while your brothers have passed away,

O you who remains while your brethren have passed

You are but one of those who have passed away.

You are but one of those who have gone before

أَنَسيتَ أَن تُدعى وَأَنتَ مُحَشرِج

أَنَسيتَ أَن تُدعى وَأَنتَ مُحَشرِج

ما إِن تَفيقُ وَلا تُجيبُ لِمَن دَعا

ما إِن تَفيقُ وَلا تُجيبُ لِمَن دَعا

Have you forgotten that you will be called while your breath rattles in your throat,

Have you forgotten you will be called while convulsed in death throes

Neither regaining consciousness nor answering whoever calls?

You will not respond when called by the one who calls you

أَمّا خُطاكَ إِلى العَمى فَسَريعَةٌ

أَمّا خُطاكَ إِلى العَمى فَسَريعَةٌ

وَإِلى الهُدى فَأَراكَ مُنقَبِضَ الخُطا

وَإِلى الهُدى فَأَراكَ مُنقَبِضَ الخُطا

As for your steps toward blindness, they are swift;

As for your steps toward blindness, they are swift

But toward guidance, I see you holding back your steps.

While toward guidance, I see you recoiling