تَؤمِّلُ في الدُنيا طَويلاً وَلا تَدري

إِذا جَنَّ لَيلٌ هَل تَعيشُ إِلى الفَجرِ

You ponder upon this life for so long, not knowing

You harbor long hopes for this world, yet you do not know,

If night comes, will you live to see the dawn

When night descends, if you shall live to see the dawn.

فَكَم مِن صَحيحٍ ماتَ مِن غَيرِ عَلَّةٍ

وَكَم مِن عَليلٍ عاشَ دَهراً إِلى دَهرِ

So many a healthy man has died for no reason

For how many of sound body have died without an ailment,

And many a sick man has lived an age, then another

And how many of the sick have lived on from age to age.

وَكَم مِن فَتىً يُمسي وَيُصبِحُ آمِناً

وَقَد نُسِجَت أَكفانُهُ وَهوَ لا يَدري

Many a lad will retire and wake safe

How many a youth passes his evening and morning in safety,

With his shroud already woven, unbeknownst to him

While his shrouds have already been woven, and he is unaware.