الدَهرُ يَخنُقُ أَحياناً قِلادَتَهُ

الدَهرُ يَخنُقُ أَحياناً قِلادَتَهُ

عَلَيكَ لا تَضطَرِب فيهِ وَلا تَثِبِ

عَلَيكَ لا تَضطَرِب فيهِ وَلا تَثِبِ

Time sometimes tightens its necklace

Sometimes fate squeezes its necklace

Time sometimes tightens its necklace,

Upon you; do not struggle in it, nor leap,

Don't be troubled or jump about in it

So do not thrash within it, nor leap in panic,

حَتّى يُفَرِّجُها في حالِ مُدَّتِها

حَتّى يُفَرِّجُها في حالِ مُدَّتِها

فَقَد يَزيدُ اِختِناقاً كُلُّ مُضطَرِبِ

فَقَد يَزيدُ اِختِناقاً كُلُّ مُضطَرِبِ

Until it loosens it in the course of its span;

Until it loosens in its own time

Until it loosens the hold in its own due course,

For everyone who struggles may choke still more.

For every troubled one tightens the noose

For indeed, he who struggles only chokes the more.