للمرء في أيامه عبر

والصفو يحدث بعده كدر

In his days, man faces lessons,

For man, in his days, there are lessons,

Then calm occurs after turmoil.

And serenity is followed by trouble.

خرس الزمان لمن تأمله

تطق وخبز صروفه خبر

Time kept silent for one who examined it.

Time is mute to the one who contemplates it,

Its ups and downs told the news.

Yet it speaks, and the experience of its changes is news.

نادى فأسمع لو وعت إذن

وأرى العواقب لو رأى بصر

It called out, so listen, if you were aware,

It called out to be heard, if only an ear were aware,

And I see the consequences, if sight could see.

And showed the consequences, if only a sight could see.

كم قال هبوا طالما هجعت

منكم عيون حقها السهر

How often have I said: come, though you have slept,

How often it said 'Arise!', for long have slept

Eyes that stay up late are their right.

Eyes of yours that ought to be keeping watch.

أبإذن من هو مبصري صمم

أم قلب من هو سامعي حجر

With the permission of the One who makes me see though deaf,

Is there deafness in the ear of one who sees me?

Or a heart that makes me hear though stony.

Or is the heart of one who hears me made of stone?

لولا عماكم ما جاءت النر

ومواعظي ما جاءت النذر

Were it not for your blindness, adversity would not have come,

Were it not for your blindness, the Fire would not have come,

And my advice would not have come as a warning.

And my admonitions and warnings would not have arrived.

هذي مصارع معشرٍ هلكوا

وعطتكم بالصمت فاعتبروا

These are the ends of a group who perished.

These are the death-grounds of a people who perished;

I gave you silence, so take heed.

They preached to you with silence, so take heed.

قالت أرى ليل الشباب بدت

للشيب فيه أنجم زهر

The night of youth seemed to dawn

She said, 'I see the night of youth has revealed

With stars of old age blossoming in it.

Stars of grey hair shining within it.'

فأجبتها لا تكثري عجباً

من شيبةٍ لم يجنها كبر

I told her: Do not be so surprised

So I answered her, 'Do not marvel too much

At white hair untouched by old age.

At a greyness not harvested by old age.

لكن طويت من الهموم لظىً

أضحى لها في عارضي شرر

Rather, I have folded the heat of anxieties

But I have folded within me a flame of worries,

That made sparks fly on my temple.

That became sparks upon my temples.'

حسنت شمائلكم وأوجهكم

فتطابقا مرأىً ومختبر

You have beautified your looks and faces

Your characters and faces were beautiful,

Matching perfectly in appearance and character.

So they matched in appearance and in essence.

والحسن في صور النفوس وإن

راقتك من أجسامها الصور

Beauty lies in the forms of souls, even if

For beauty lies in the forms of souls, even if

You liked their physical forms.

The forms of bodies have delighted you.

لا ضعضعت أيدي الخطوب لكم

ركنا ولا راعتكم الغير

The hands of misfortunes could not shake you,

May the hands of misfortune never shake for you

A pillar, nor disturb you, O strangers!

A pillar, nor may the changes of time alarm you.