يأتي على الناس إصباح وامساء

ونحن نلهو وعين السوء عمياء

Dawn and evening come upon humankind,

while we make merry and the eye of evil is blind.

إخوان صدق على اللذات الفتنا

وكلنا لصروف الدهر نساء

True brothers, our fellowship rests on pleasures,

and all of us are forgetful of time's vicissitudes.

تمضي الملوك ومصر في تقلبها

كأنها روضة للأنس غناء

Kings pass away, while Egypt, through its changes,

seems a lush garden of convivial delight.

مواطن اللهو ما زالت كما عهدت

مصر على العهد والاحساء أحساء

The haunts of pleasure remain just as they were:

Egypt as of old, and al-Ahsa still al-Ahsa.

أين الملوك وابناء الملوك ومن

غدا لهم فيه إطراب واطراء

Where are the kings, the sons of kings, and those

for whom it once held delight and lavish praise?

ذلوا لأحبابهم حكم الغرام وقد

كانت لهم نعمة في الملك قعساء

They bowed to their beloveds—such is passion's law—though

they had enjoyed unshakable prosperity in their rule.

قد متعوا بقليل من زخارفها

حتى قضوا وإله العرش عفاء

They were allowed to enjoy a little of its finery,

until they died; the God of the Throne is ever-forgiving.

ظنوا جميلاً بعون الله وانصرفوا

عن دارها واقتفى اللذات اسواء

They hoped for good through God's help, and departed

from its abode, while others like them pursued pleasures.