متى يَقصِدُ المرءُ في غيرهِ

متى يَقصِدُ المرءُ في غيرهِ

إذا كانَ في نفسِهِ يُسرِفُ

إذا كانَ في نفسِهِ يُسرِفُ

When will a man show moderation toward others,

When does a person find fault in others

if he is excessive toward himself?

If he is excessive towards himself?

أَرَى النَّفسَ إن بَلَغَت غايةً

أَرَى النَّفسَ إن بَلَغَت غايةً

سَمَت بَعدَ ذلكَ تستَشرِفُ

سَمَت بَعدَ ذلكَ تستَشرِفُ

I see the soul, whenever it reaches a goal,

I see the self, if it reaches its goal

rise thereafter, aspiring still higher.

It then proceeds to overreach

وكيفَ تُسَرُّ بيومٍ يَمُرُّ

وكيفَ تُسَرُّ بيومٍ يَمُرُّ

وَمِن عُمرِها أَبَداً يَغرِفُ

وَمِن عُمرِها أَبَداً يَغرِفُ

And how can it rejoice in a day that passes

And how can it be pleased with a day that passes

and continually scoops from the soul's lifespan?

While from its life it continually takes?

وَلا بُدَّ لِلجَنبِ من وَجبَةٍ

وَلا بُدَّ لِلجَنبِ من وَجبَةٍ

إلى مَلحَدٍ نابُهُ يَصرِفُ

إلى مَلحَدٍ نابُهُ يَصرِفُ

And the body's side must fall with a thud

And a feast is a must for the stranger

into a grave whose fang grinds.

To a nonbeliever whose fangs are bared

ومَن كانَ مُستيقناً أَنَّهُ

ومَن كانَ مُستيقناً أَنَّهُ

إلى ربِّهِ الرَّجعُ والمصرِفُ

إلى ربِّهِ الرَّجعُ والمصرِفُ

And whoever is certain that

And whoever is certain that he

to his Lord are the return and final recourse—

To his Lord will return and be dismissed

فما حالُه عندَ وَضعِ الكِتَابِ

فما حالُه عندَ وَضعِ الكِتَابِ

أَيُنكِر ما فيهِ أَم يَعرِفُ

أَيُنكِر ما فيهِ أَم يَعرِفُ

what will his state be when the book is laid down?

So what is his state when the book is placed

Will he deny what is in it, or acknowledge it?

Does he deny what is in it or recognize?