لَقَد نَأَشَ الأَقوامُ في الدَهرِ مُخلِصاً

لَقَد نَأَشَ الأَقوامُ في الدَهرِ مُخلِصاً

وَعادوا بِلا نُجحٍ فَكَيفَ تَنوشُ

وَعادوا بِلا نُجحٍ فَكَيفَ تَنوشُ

Through the ages, peoples have reached for some means of escape,

Indeed, peoples sought a way of escape through the ages,

yet returned without success—how, then, will you attain it?

And returned without success—how, then, can you attain it?

وَآدَمُ وَلّى عَن بَنيهِ بِحَسرَةٍ

وَآدَمُ وَلّى عَن بَنيهِ بِحَسرَةٍ

وَوَدَّعَ شَيثٌ أَهلَهُ وَأَنوشُ

وَوَدَّعَ شَيثٌ أَهلَهُ وَأَنوشُ

Adam departed from his children in sorrow,

And Adam turned away from his sons in sorrow,

and Seth bade his family farewell, as did Enosh.

And Seth bade his family farewell, as did Enosh.