كَم آمِنٍ لِلمَنونِ لاهٍ

عَنِ الرَدى باتَ مُطمَئِنّا

How many a confider in life has become heedless of fate

And slept feeling safe from death's strike

صَبَّحَهُ وافِدُ المَنايا

فَعايَنَ المَوتَ حينَ عَنّا

Until Death, the inevitable, visited him suddenly

And he saw death when it came unawares

حَتّى إِذا ما قَضى بَكاهُ

حَميمُهُ مُعوِلاً مُرِنّا

When his fate was fulfilled, his dear ones cried over him

Keening painfully, wailing and mourning

وارَوهُ في لَحدِهِ وَسَنّوا

عَلَيهِ قَيدَ التُرابِ سَنّا

They buried him in his grave and heaped

Dust's shackles heavily upon him

وَاِنتَهَبوا مالَهُ وَشَنّوا ال

غاراتِ فيما حَواهُ شَنّا

They plundered his wealth and ransacked

His possessions, pillaging his belongings

لِمِثلِ هَذا فَكُن مُعِدّا

ما قَد أُعِدَّ الهُداةُ مِنّا

Prepare yourself for the like of this

As wise men prepare themselves for it

وَاِرتَقِبِ المَوتَ فَهوَ حَتمٌ

يَختَرِمُ الطِفلَ وَالمُسِنّا

And expect death, for it is destined

To overcome child and elder alike