شَكى الزَمانَ بِهِ أَمضى بِهِ قَدَراً

إِنَّ الزَمانَ لَمَحمودٌ عَلى الأَبَدِ

He complained of time, though it had decreed his fate

Indeed time is forever praiseworthy

لَن يُبطِئَ الأَمرُ ما أَمَّلتَ أَوبَتَهُ

وَإِن أَعانَكَ فيهِ رِفقُ مُتَّئِدِ

The matter will not be delayed, whatever you hope for or desire

And if it aids you in that, it is gently pulling along

وَالدَهرُ آخِذُ ما أَعطى مُكَدِّرُ ما

أَصفى وَمُفسِدُ ما أَهوى لَهُ بِيَدِ

Time takes what it gave, making bitter what was sweet

And corrupting what it loved, in its hand

فَلا يَغُرَّنكَ مِن دَهرٍ عَطِيَّتُهُ

فَلَيسَ يَترُكُ ما أَعطى عَلى أَحَدِ

So do not let its gift deceive you

For it will not leave what it gave to anyone