ويَوْمَ شِبامٍ قَدْ رأَيْتُ مَواعِظاً

ويَوْمَ شِبامٍ قَدْ رأَيْتُ مَواعِظاً

تُخَبِّرُنا أنَّ الْحَياةَ غُرورُ

تُخَبِّرُنا أنَّ الْحَياةَ غُرورُ

And on the day of Shibam, I saw admonitions

One fateful day I saw advice

That tell us life is a delusion.

That life is naught but vain device

رَأَيْتُ مُلُوكاً طَأْطَأَ الدَّهْرُ مِنْهُمُ

رَأَيْتُ مُلُوكاً طَأْطَأَ الدَّهْرُ مِنْهُمُ

ودَارَ بِهِمْ والدَّائِراتُ تَدُورُ

ودَارَ بِهِمْ والدَّائِراتُ تَدُورُ

I saw kings whom time had humbled

I saw great kings whom time did humble

And turned upon, while misfortunes turn.

As fortunes wheel did constant rumble

وَأَنْزَلَهُمْ مِنْ مَعْقِلٍ شامِخِ الذُّرَى

وَأَنْزَلَهُمْ مِنْ مَعْقِلٍ شامِخِ الذُّرَى

وعُطِّلَ مِنْهُمْ مِنْبَرٌ وسَرِيرُ

وعُطِّلَ مِنْهُمْ مِنْبَرٌ وسَرِيرُ

And brought them down from a stronghold of lofty summits,

And from lofty towers were tumbled

And a pulpit and a throne were left vacant without them.

As dais and throne in dust did crumble

ومَنْ يأْمَنِ الدُّنْيا يَكُنْ مِثْلَ قابِضٍ

ومَنْ يأْمَنِ الدُّنْيا يَكُنْ مِثْلَ قابِضٍ

دُخاناً وإمْساكُ الدُّخانِ عَسيرُ

دُخاناً وإمْساكُ الدُّخانِ عَسيرُ

And whoever trusts the world will be like one grasping

Whoever trusts this world will fumble

Smoke—and holding smoke is difficult.

Like grasping at elusive bubble