سَكَنٌ يَبقى لَهُ سَكَنٌ

سَكَنٌ يَبقى لَهُ سَكَنٌ

ما لِهَذا يُؤذِنُ الزَمَنُ

ما لِهَذا يُؤذِنُ الزَمَنُ

A dweller for whom a dwelling endures—

A home remains for him, a home

Is there a dwelling that remains for its dweller?

Time gives no promise of this.

Why does time foretell this?

Time gives no promise of this.

نَحنُ في دارٍ يُخَبِّرُنا

نَحنُ في دارٍ يُخَبِّرُنا

بِبَلاها ناطِقٌ لَحِنُ

بِبَلاها ناطِقٌ لَحِنُ

We are in an abode; we are told

We are in a house that informs us

We are in an abode that informs us

Of its decay by a discerning speaker.

Of its ruin, with a tune's diction

Of its own decay, an articulate voice.

دارُ سوءٍ لَم يَدُم فَرَحٌ

دارُ سوءٍ لَم يَدُم فَرَحٌ

لِاِمرِئٍ فيها وَلا حَزَنُ

لِاِمرِئٍ فيها وَلا حَزَنُ

An abode of ill: no joy has lasted

An evil house whose joy did not last

A treacherous home where joy does not last

For anyone within it, nor any sorrow.

For any man in it, nor sorrow

For anyone within it, nor does sorrow.

كُلُّ حَيٍّ عِندَ ميتَتِهِ

كُلُّ حَيٍّ عِندَ ميتَتِهِ

حَظُّهُ مِن مالِهِ الكَفَنُ

حَظُّهُ مِن مالِهِ الكَفَنُ

Every living being, at his death—

Every living thing, by its dead

Every living soul, at the time of his death,

His share of his wealth is the shroud.

Gets from its wealth but a shroud

His lot from his wealth is but the shroud.