إِنَّ أَسوا يَومٍ يَمُرُّ عَلَيّا

يَومُ لا رُغبَةٌ تَكونُ إِلَيّا

The most miserable day that passes me by

Is a day where I have no desire in me

كَم تَغُرُّ الدُنيا وَكَم يَجِدُ الإِن

سانُ فيها شَيئاً وَيُحرَمُ شَيّا

How the world does deceive, and how much a person finds

Something in it, yet is deprived of something

تَنشُرُ الحادِثاتُ طَوراً وَتَطوي

إِنَّما الحادِثاتُ نَشراً وَطِيّا

Events unfold at times, and fold at others

Events are just unfolding and folding

وَطِباعُ الإِنسانِ مُختَلِفاتٌ

رُبَّ وَعرِ الأَخلاقِ سَهلُ المُحَيّا

And people's natures differ

Many a coarse character is easy to be with

وَمِنَ الحَزمِ أَن أَكونَ لِنَفسي

قَبلَ مَوتي فيما مَلَكتُ وَصِيّا

And it is wise that I appoint myself

Before my death as executor of what I own