وكيف يأمنُ ريبَ الدَّهرِ مُرتَهَنٌ

بِعَدوِهِ الدَّهرَ إنَّ الدَّهرَ عَدَّاءُ

How can one feel secure from the vicissitudes of Time

When Time itself is your enemy? For Time is ever fickle.

ألقى على الجِيلِ مِن عادٍ كَلاكِلَهُ

وَقَومِ هُودٍ فهم هامٌ وأَصدَاءُ

It overturned 'Aad like so many palm-trees that it uprooted,

And the people of Hood; they were annihilated, destroyed.