ما قلت كان لما قد فات من أسف

ما قلت كان لما قد فات من أسف

ولا ترقبت ما يأتي به الأمل

ولا ترقبت ما يأتي به الأمل

I never said, “It was,” in regret for what has passed.

I did not speak of what had passed with regret,

Nor did I await what hope brings.

Nor did I anticipate what hope would bring.

لا ألزم الدهر ذنبا في تصرّفه

لا ألزم الدهر ذنبا في تصرّفه

فالطبع يفعل مالا يفعل العذل

فالطبع يفعل مالا يفعل العذل

I do not blame time for its conduct.

I do not blame fate for its turns,

For nature does what reproach cannot.

Nature acts as logic does not.

لا ما يكون ولا ما كان ينفعني

لا ما يكون ولا ما كان ينفعني

يومي بما فيه حتى ينفد الأجل

يومي بما فيه حتى ينفد الأجل

Neither what will be nor what was benefits me;

Neither what will be nor what was benefits me-

My day, with what it holds, does—until my allotted span runs out.

My day suffices me until my time runs out.