أَرى الدُنيا الدَنيَّةَ لا تُواتي

أَرى الدُنيا الدَنيَّةَ لا تُواتي

فَأَجمَلْ في التَصَرُّف وَالطلابِ

فَأَجمَلْ في التَصَرُّف وَالطلابِ

I see the lowly world does not oblige;

I see this lowly world does not endure

so be moderate in your conduct and pursuit.

So be graceful in your conduct and desires

وَلا يَغرُركَ مِنها حُسنُ بُردٍ

وَلا يَغرُركَ مِنها حُسنُ بُردٍ

لَهُ عَلَمانِ مِن ذَهَب الذَهابِ

لَهُ عَلَمانِ مِن ذَهَب الذَهابِ

And do not let the beauty of its cloak deceive you,

And do not let a nice coat mislead you

with two ornamental bands of the gold of transience.

It has two signs of fading gold

فَأوّلُها رَجاءٌ مِن سَرابٍ

فَأوّلُها رَجاءٌ مِن سَرابٍ

وَآخرُِها رِداءٌ مِن تُرابِ

وَآخرُِها رِداءٌ مِن تُرابِ

For its beginning is hope born of a mirage,

The first being a mirage of hope

and its end is a robe of dust.

The last being a cloak of dust