مَضى النَهارُ وَيَمضي اللَيلُ في مَهَلٍ

مَضى النَهارُ وَيَمضي اللَيلُ في مَهَلٍ

كِلاهُما مُسرِعٌ فينا عَلى مَهلِه

كِلاهُما مُسرِعٌ فينا عَلى مَهلِه

The day has passed, and the night moves on at an unhurried pace;

The day has passed, and the night passes at a leisurely pace.

both speed through us, each at its own measured pace.

Both hasten among us, each at its own leisurely pace.

وَالريحُ مُقبِلَةٌ طَوراً وَمُدبِرَةٌ

وَالريحُ مُقبِلَةٌ طَوراً وَمُدبِرَةٌ

وَالدَهرُ يَقرَعُ بَينَ الناسِ في دُوَلِه

وَالدَهرُ يَقرَعُ بَينَ الناسِ في دُوَلِه

The wind advances at times and retreats at times,

And the wind now approaches, now recedes.

and Time strikes among people as its fortunes turn.

And time casts lots among people in its turns of fortune.

يا نَفسُ لا تَرتَجينَ الغَوثَ مِن قَبلي

يا نَفسُ لا تَرتَجينَ الغَوثَ مِن قَبلي

هَلَكتِ إِن لَم يُغِثكِ اللَهُ مِن قَبلِه

هَلَكتِ إِن لَم يُغِثكِ اللَهُ مِن قَبلِه

O soul, do not hope for deliverance from me;

O soul, do not look to me for help.

you are lost unless God comes to your aid before it is too late.

You will perish unless God Himself comes to your aid.

كَم مُترَفٍ كانَ ذا مالٍ وَذا خَوَلٍ

كَم مُترَفٍ كانَ ذا مالٍ وَذا خَوَلٍ

قَد صارَ مِن مالِهِ صِفراً وَمِن خَوَلِه

قَد صارَ مِن مالِهِ صِفراً وَمِن خَوَلِه

How many a pampered man once possessed wealth and attendants,

Many a pampered man who once had wealth and servants

then was left with nothing of his wealth and nothing of his retinue.

Has become bereft of his wealth and his servants.

وَرُبَّ رَيثِ اِمرِئٍ أَقوى لِمَأخَذِهِ

وَرُبَّ رَيثِ اِمرِئٍ أَقوى لِمَأخَذِهِ

لِما أَرادَ وَأَوحى فيهِ مِن عَجِلِه

لِما أَرادَ وَأَوحى فيهِ مِن عَجِلِه

Often a person’s deliberation is more effective in securing

And often a man's deliberation is more effective in attaining

what he desires—and quicker in doing so than his haste.

What he desires, and swifter at it than his haste.