أَلَستَ تَرى مَوتَ العُلى وَالمَحامِدِ

أَلَستَ تَرى مَوتَ العُلى وَالمَحامِدِ

وَكَيفَ دَفَنّا الخَلقَ في قَبرِ واحِدِ

وَكَيفَ دَفَنّا الخَلقَ في قَبرِ واحِدِ

Do you not see the death of greatness and praiseworthy deeds,

Do you not see how death overtakes the exalted and the lauded,

and how we have buried all creation in a single grave?

And how we will bury all creation in one grave,

وَلِلدَهرِ أَيّامٌ تُسيءُ عَواقِباً

وَلِلدَهرِ أَيّامٌ تُسيءُ عَواقِباً

وَتُحسِنُ إِن أَحسَنَّ غَيرَ عَوامِدِ

وَتُحسِنُ إِن أَحسَنَّ غَيرَ عَوامِدِ

And Time has days that bring ill consequences,

And how time has days that lead to evil ends,

and do good—if they do good at all—without intending it.

And turn out well, if well-supported by others' deeds.