وَعَظتُ قَوماً فَلَم يُرعوا إِلى عِظَتي

وَعَظتُ قَوماً فَلَم يُرعوا إِلى عِظَتي

مِثلَ اِمرِىءِ القَيسِ ناجي طائِرَ الوادي

مِثلَ اِمرِىءِ القَيسِ ناجي طائِرَ الوادي

I admonished a people, but they paid no heed to my admonition,

I admonished a people, but they did not heed my admonition,

Like Imru’ al-Qays, who confided in the bird of the valley.

Like Imru' al-Qays, the companion of the bird of the valley.

أَرى الزَمانَ وَشيكاً مُبطِئاً وَلَهُ

أَرى الزَمانَ وَشيكاً مُبطِئاً وَلَهُ

حالٌ تُخالِفُ إيشاكي وَإِروادي

حالٌ تُخالِفُ إيشاكي وَإِروادي

I see time swift and slow, yet it has

I see time approaching slowly, with a state

A state at odds with my haste and my leisurely pace.

That contradicts my wishes and inclinations.

كَم جادَ قبلي حَضارٌ وَبادِيَةٌ

كَم جادَ قبلي حَضارٌ وَبادِيَةٌ

لِلوارِثينَ بِأَفراسٍ وَأَذوادِ

لِلوارِثينَ بِأَفراسٍ وَأَذوادِ

How many settled folk and desert dwellers before me have given

How many civilized and nomadic people have perished

Their heirs horses and herds of camels!

Leaving inheritance to heirs, horses and camels.

إِنَّ المَنايا أَرَتنا حُجَّةً شَرَحَت

إِنَّ المَنايا أَرَتنا حُجَّةً شَرَحَت

فَضلَ العَطايا لِبَخّالٍ وَأَجوادِ

فَضلَ العَطايا لِبَخّالٍ وَأَجوادِ

Indeed, death has shown us a proof that made clear

Verily death has shown us a clear argument

To the miser and the generous the virtue of giving.

That generosity is wasted on the miserly and ungenerous.

وَالعَفوَ آمُلُ مِن رَبّي إِذا حُضِرَت

وَالعَفوَ آمُلُ مِن رَبّي إِذا حُضِرَت

نَفسي وَفارَقتُ عُوّادي لِأَعوادي

نَفسي وَفارَقتُ عُوّادي لِأَعوادي

And I hope for pardon from my Lord when death overtakes

I hope for pardon from my Lord when my soul departs

My soul, and I leave my sickbed visitors for my bier’s timbers.

And I leave my friends to return to the ground.