مَن ظَنَّ صَفوَ الدّهرِ أَضحى مُخطِئاً

مَن ظَنَّ صَفوَ الدّهرِ أَضحى مُخطِئاً

وَأَخا الجَهالَةِ عادِمَ الأَنظارِ

وَأَخا الجَهالَةِ عادِمَ الأَنظارِ

Whoever believes time to be serene is mistaken,

Whoever expects the purest time to last is mistaken,

And a brother to ignorance, bereft of insight.

And a brother of ignorance, lacking insight.

لا تَرجُ صَفوَ الدّهرِ يا خِدْنَ الحِجَى

لا تَرجُ صَفوَ الدّهرِ يا خِدْنَ الحِجَى

فَالدّهرُ مَطبوعٌ عَلى الأَكدارِ

فَالدّهرُ مَطبوعٌ عَلى الأَكدارِ

Do not hope for serenity from time, O companion of wisdom;

Do not expect the purest time, O sheltered one.

For time is by nature marked by troubles.

For time is imprinted with troubles.