لا تلبس الدهر على غِرَّةٍ

فما لموْتِ الحَيِّ مِنْ بُدِّ

Do not wear life's robe carelessly,

For what escape has living from death?

ولا يُخادِعْكَ طويلُ البَقا

فتَحْسبِ الطُّولَ مِنَ الخُلْدِ

And let not long life deceive you

To think length is immortality.

ينْفَذُ ما كان لهُ آخِرٌ

ما أقْربَ المَهْدَ مِنَ اللَّحْدِ

Whatever has an end will vanish.

How near the cradle lies to the bier!