تاهَ الأُعَيرِجُ وَاِستَعلى بِهِ الخَطَرُ

تاهَ الأُعَيرِجُ وَاِستَعلى بِهِ الخَطَرُ

فَقُل لَهُ خَيرُ ما اِستَعمَلتَهُ الحَذَرُ

فَقُل لَهُ خَيرُ ما اِستَعمَلتَهُ الحَذَرُ

Al-Uʿayrij grew conceited, and his rank exalted him.

The limping one wandered and danger overtook him,

So tell him: caution is the best thing you can employ.

Say to him: caution is the best thing you employed.

أَحسَنتَ ظَنَّكَ بِالأَيّامِ إِذ حَسُنَت

أَحسَنتَ ظَنَّكَ بِالأَيّامِ إِذ حَسُنَت

وَلَم تَخَف سوءَ ما يَأتي بِهِ القَدَرُ

وَلَم تَخَف سوءَ ما يَأتي بِهِ القَدَرُ

You thought well of the days when they were kind,

You thought well of the days when they were good,

and did not fear the evil that fate would bring.

And did not fear the evil that destiny might bring.

وَسالَمَتكَ اللَيالي فَاِغتَرَرتَ بِها

وَسالَمَتكَ اللَيالي فَاِغتَرَرتَ بِها

وَعِندَ صَفوِ اللَيالي يَحدُثُ الكَدَرُ

وَعِندَ صَفوِ اللَيالي يَحدُثُ الكَدَرُ

And the nights were at peace with you, so you were beguiled by them;

The safe nights deceived you,

and amid the nights’ serenity, trouble arises.

And in the untroubled hours sorrow arises.