وَرُبَّةَand many a أَكلَةٍmeal مَنَعَتdeprived أَخاهاits eater (literally, its brother)
وَرُبَّةَ أَكلَةٍ مَنَعَت أَخاها
بِلَذَّةِthrough the pleasure of ساعَةٍan hour أَكلاتِmeals دَهرِa lifetime
بِلَذَّةِ ساعَةٍ أَكلاتِ دَهرِ
And many a meal has deprived its eater,
Through an hour’s pleasure, of a lifetime’s meals.
وَكَمand how many مِنof طالِبٍa seeker يَسعىstrives لأمرٍfor a goal
وَكَم مِن طالِبٍ يَسعى لأمرٍ
وَفيهِand in it هَلاكُهُhis ruin لَوif only كانَhe was يَدريhe knows
وَفيهِ هَلاكُهُ لَو كانَ يَدري
And how many a seeker strives for a goal,
And in it lies his ruin, if only he knew.
Sol 6.1