الدَهرُtime كَالشاعِرِlike a poet المُقويwith inconsistent rhyme vowels وَنَحنُand we بِهِin it
الدَهرُ كَالشاعِرِ المُقوي وَنَحنُ بِهِ
مِثلُlike الفَواصِلِverse endings مَخفوضٌlowered (genitive) وَمَرفوعُand raised (nominative)
مِثلُ الفَواصِلِ مَخفوضٌ وَمَرفوعُ
Time is like a poet with inconsistent rhyme vowels, and we within it
Are like verse endings—some lowered, others raised.
ماnot سَرَّdelighted يَوماًon any day بِشَيءٍwith anything مِنof مَحاسِنِهِits charms
ما سَرَّ يَوماً بِشَيءٍ مِن مَحاسِنِهِ
إِلّاexcept وَذاكَand that بِسوءِwith the evil of الفِعلِthe deed مَشفوعُaccompanied
إِلّا وَذاكَ بِسوءِ الفِعلِ مَشفوعُ
Never, on any day, has it delighted us with any of its charms
Without that being accompanied by evil deeds.
وَالمَرءُand man يَرغَبُlongs فيfor الدُنِّياthis world وَيُعجِبُهُand delights him
وَالمَرءُ يَرغَبُ في الدُنِّيا وَيُعجِبُهُ
غِناهُhis wealth وَهُوَwhile he إِلىtoward ماwhat ساءَbrings sorrow مَدفوعُdriven
غِناهُ وَهُوَ إِلى ما ساءَ مَدفوعُ
And man longs for this world, and takes delight in
His wealth, while he is driven toward what brings sorrow.
Sol 6.1