صَحِبتُ الحَياةَ فَطالَ العَناءُ

صَحِبتُ الحَياةَ فَطالَ العَناءُ

وَلا خَيرَ في العَيشِ مُستَصحَبا

وَلا خَيرَ في العَيشِ مُستَصحَبا

I kept company with life, and so suffering grew long.

I endured life, so suffering grew long

And there is no good in taking life as a companion.

No good in living with a companion

وَقَد كُنتُ فيما مَضى جامِحاً

وَقَد كُنتُ فيما مَضى جامِحاً

وَمَن راضَهُ دَهرُهُ أَصحَبا

وَمَن راضَهُ دَهرُهُ أَصحَبا

And indeed I was headstrong in days gone by,

Formerly I was impetuous and violent

And whoever is tamed by time becomes docile.

He whom fate satisfies finds company

مَتى ما شَحَبتَ لِوَجهِ المَليكِ

مَتى ما شَحَبتَ لِوَجهِ المَليكِ

كُسيتَ جَمالاً بِأَن تَشحَبا

كُسيتَ جَمالاً بِأَن تَشحَبا

Whenever you grow pale for the Sovereign's sake,

Whenever you turn pale for the sovereign's face

You are clothed in beauty by growing pale.

You are clothed in beauty by turning pale

حَبا الشَيخُ لا طامِعاً في النُهوضِ

حَبا الشَيخُ لا طامِعاً في النُهوضِ

نَقيضَ الصَبِيِّ إِذا ما حَبا

نَقيضَ الصَبِيِّ إِذا ما حَبا

The old man crawls with no hope of rising,

The old man loves not hoping for revival

Unlike the child when he crawls.

Unlike the boy when he begins to love

وَلَم يَحُبُّني أَحَدٌ نِعمَةً

وَلَم يَحُبُّني أَحَدٌ نِعمَةً

وَلَكِن مَولى المَوالي حَبا

وَلَكِن مَولى المَوالي حَبا

And no one bestowed a blessing upon me,

And no one loved me as a blessing

Yet the Lord of lords bestowed it.

But the Lord of lords has loved

نَصَحتُكَ فَاِعمَل لَهُ دائِماً

نَصَحتُكَ فَاِعمَل لَهُ دائِماً

وَإِن جاءَ مَوتٌ فَقُل مَرحَبا

وَإِن جاءَ مَوتٌ فَقُل مَرحَبا

I have advised you, so work for Him always,

I advised you, so act for Him always

And if death comes, then say, 'Welcome!'

And if death comes, say welcome