أَيَعتَزُّ الفَتى بِالمالِ زَهواً

أَيَعتَزُّ الفَتى بِالمالِ زَهواً

وَما فيها يَفوتُ عَنِ اِعتِزازِ

وَما فيها يَفوتُ عَنِ اِعتِزازِ

Does a young man take pride in wealth, boastfully,

Does the young man take pride in wealth arrogantly,

While what the world holds slips beyond the reach of pride?

Yet what's in it escapes the haughtiness?

وَيَطلُبُ دَولَةَ الدُنيا جُنوناً

وَيَطلُبُ دَولَةَ الدُنيا جُنوناً

وَدَولَتُها مُخالِفَة المَخازي

وَدَولَتُها مُخالِفَة المَخازي

And does he madly seek worldly dominion,

He seeks the rule of this world insanely,

While its dominion is at odds with disgrace?

Yet its rule opposes all senses.

وَنَحنُ وَكُلُّ مَن فيها كَسفرٍ

وَنَحنُ وَكُلُّ مَن فيها كَسفرٍ

دَنا مِنّا الرَحيلُ عَلى الوَفازِ

دَنا مِنّا الرَحيلُ عَلى الوَفازِ

And we, and all who are in it, are like travelers:

We and all who live in it are like travelers,

Departure has drawn near to us in haste.

Departure has drawn near to us steadfastly.

جَهِلناها كَأَن لَم نَختَبِرها

جَهِلناها كَأَن لَم نَختَبِرها

عَلى طولِ التَهاني وَالتَعازي

عَلى طولِ التَهاني وَالتَعازي

We were ignorant of it, as though we had never experienced it,

We were ignorant of it as if we never experienced it,

Despite the long succession of congratulations and condolences.

Throughout the duration of joys and condolences.

وَلَم نَعلَم بِأَن لا لَبثَ فيها

وَلَم نَعلَم بِأَن لا لَبثَ فيها

وَلا تَعريجَ غَيرَ الإِجتِيازِ

وَلا تَعريجَ غَيرَ الإِجتِيازِ

And we did not know that there is no abiding in it,

And we did not know that there is no lasting in it,

Nor any lingering—only passing through.

Nor ascent except for passing through.