نَعَتِ الدُنيا إِلَينا نَفسَها

وَأَرَتنا عِبَراً لَم نَنسَها

The world portrayed itself to us

And showed us lessons we can't forget

كُلَّما قامَت لِقَومٍ دَولَةٌ

عَجَّلَ الحَينُ عَلَيهِم نَكسَها

Whenever a nation rose high

Fate hastily reversed its fortune

تَطلُبُ التَجديدَ مِن دارِ البِلى

أَسَسَ اللَهُ عَلَيها أُسَّها

It seeks renewal in the land of decay

God made transience its foundation

كَم لَها مِن لُقَمٍ مَسمومَةٍ

يَستَبينُ القَلبُ مِنها لَمسَها

How many a poisoned morsel it has

The heart discerns from its touch

حابِسُ الدُنيا لَها مِن حَبسِهِ

فَلَتاتٍ لَم يُمَلَّك حَبسَها

He who imprisons the world with his grasp

Has shackles no one can own

يا لَها مَحروسَةً لَم يَستَطِع

أَحَدٌ دونَ المَنايا حَرسَها

Oh how guarded it is, no one could

Protect it from demise's guard