أَجَمَّ رَحيلي ما أَجَمَّت مَوارِدي

أَجَمَّ رَحيلي ما أَجَمَّت مَوارِدي

وَكانَ دُخولي في ذَوي العَدَدِ الجَمِّ

وَكانَ دُخولي في ذَوي العَدَدِ الجَمِّ

My departure is at hand; my watering places have not filled.

My departure was delayed, though my supplies were ready,

And my entry was among the great multitude.

And my entrance was into a numerous company.

أَشمَسَ نَهاري كَم خَلَت لَكَ حِجَّةٌ

أَشمَسَ نَهاري كَم خَلَت لَكَ حِجَّةٌ

فَهَل لَكَ مِن خالٍ فَيُعرَفَ أَو عَمِّ

فَهَل لَكَ مِن خالٍ فَيُعرَفَ أَو عَمِّ

O sun of my day, how many a year has passed for you?

My day has set, how many proofs have passed you by,

So have you a maternal uncle who might be known, or a paternal uncle?

Do you have a maternal uncle that you may be known, or a paternal uncle?

لَعَمري لَقِدماً صاغَكِ اللَهُ قادِراً

لَعَمري لَقِدماً صاغَكِ اللَهُ قادِراً

بِغَيرِ أَبٍ عِندَ القِياسِ وَلا أُمُّ

بِغَيرِ أَبٍ عِندَ القِياسِ وَلا أُمُّ

By my life, long ago God fashioned you in His power,

By my life, you were created by Allah as He willed,

Without father or mother, by reason's reckoning.

Without a father in reason, nor a mother.

رَحِمتُكِ يا مَخلوقَةَ الإِنسِ إِنَّما

رَحِمتُكِ يا مَخلوقَةَ الإِنسِ إِنَّما

حَياتُكِ مَوتٌ وَالمَطاعِمُ كَالسُمِّ

حَياتُكِ مَوتٌ وَالمَطاعِمُ كَالسُمِّ

I pity you, O human creature; indeed,

Your mercy, O created human,

Your life is but death, and food is like poison.

Your life is death, and foods are like poison.

فَإِن تُحرَمي عَقلاً سَعِدتِ لِغَبطَةٍ

فَإِن تُحرَمي عَقلاً سَعِدتِ لِغَبطَةٍ

وَإِن تُرزَقيهِ فَهوَ مُبتَعَثُ الهَمِّ

وَإِن تُرزَقيهِ فَهوَ مُبتَعَثُ الهَمِّ

So if you are denied reason, you are enviably happy;

If you lack reason, you are blissful in ignorance,

And if you are granted it, it is the source of worry.

And if you gain it, worries arise.

وَلَن يُجمِعَ الناسُ الَّذينَ رَأَيتُهُم

وَلَن يُجمِعَ الناسُ الَّذينَ رَأَيتُهُم

عَلى الحَمدِ لَكِن يُجمِعونَ عَلى الذَمِّ

عَلى الحَمدِ لَكِن يُجمِعونَ عَلى الذَمِّ

And the people I have seen will not be unanimous

People I have seen will not unite in praising you,

In praise, but they are unanimous in blame.

Rather they will unite in blaming you.