للدهر إدبارٌ وإقبال

للدهر إدبارٌ وإقبال

وكل حال معها حال

وكل حال معها حال

Time has its reversals and advances,

Time has its ebbs and flows,

And every state has another alongside it.

And every state has an end.

وصاحب الأيام في غفلة

وصاحب الأيام في غفلة

وليس للأيّام إغفال

وليس للأيّام إغفال

And the companion of the days is heedless,

Man lives his days in heedlessness,

Yet the days overlook nothing.

Yet time spares none.

والمرء منسوب إلى فعله

والمرء منسوب إلى فعله

والناس أخبار وأمثال

والناس أخبار وأمثال

And a man is known by his deeds,

A man is known by his deeds,

And people are tales and examples.

And people are but tales and examples.

ما أحسن الصبر ولا سيّما

ما أحسن الصبر ولا سيّما

بالحرّ إن حالت به الحال

بالحرّ إن حالت به الحال

How fine is patience, especially

How good is patience, most of all

In a noble man, if his fortunes change.

In heat, if circumstances demand it.