يا متعب النفس في تصرفه

بالكد بين الرواح والبكر

O man who wearies his soul in his pursuits,

with toil between evening and dawn.

يجهد والأمر دونه حجب

مطامع الذل غير معتذر

He strives—though veils stand before his goal—

for degrading ambitions, without apology.

جارت بك الأربعون منزلة العز

وكادحت سكرة العبر

Forty years have wronged you in the station of honor,

and you have wrestled with the stupor of tears.

وأنت في غفلة على غرر

والشيب ناع والموت منتظري

Yet you remain heedless, exposed to peril,

while gray hair heralds death, and death awaits me.

فدع ركوب المنى وغرّتها

واركب طريق النجاة والحذر

So abandon riding vain hopes and their deceptive lure,

and ride the road of salvation and caution.

فأنت ممّا مضى على ثقة

وأنت مما بقي على غرر

For you are certain of what has passed,

and uncertain of what remains.