كَأنَّما العالَمُ ضَأنٌ غَدَت

لِلرَعيِ وَالمَوتُ أَبو جَعدَه

The world is like a flock of sheep

For grazing and death their shepherd

فَهادِجٌ حامِلُ عُكّازَةٍ

وَفارِسٌ مُعتَقِلٌ صُعدَه

A rider bearing a lance

And a horseman holding the reins

وَآخَرٌ يُدرِكُ مَن قَبلُهُ

وَيَترُكُ الدُنِّيا لِمَن بَعدَه

Another overtakes those gone before

And leaves the world for those after

عَيشٌ كَما تَعهَدُ لا مُخلِفٌ

وَعيدَهُ بَل مُخلِفٌ وَعدَه

A life true to its promise, not failing

Rather failing is he who promised

هَل يَأمَنُ البِرجيسُ في عِزِّهِ

مِن قَدَرٍ يُعدِمُهُ سَعدَه

Can the archer feel secure in his power

From a fate that would undo his fortune?

كَأَنَّما النَجمُ لِخَوفِ الرَدى

تَأخُذُهُ مِن فَرَقٍ رِعدَه

As if the star recoiled in fear of demise

That seizes it amidst the thunder's din

كَم لِاِبنٍ في الأَرضِ لَم يُدَكَّر

لُبَناهُ مُذ بانَ وَلا دَعدَه

How many a son on earth unfettered

Has built his nest since youth began?

أُحاذِرُ السَيلَ وَمَن لي بِمُن

جاةٍ إِذا أَسمَعَني رَعدَه

I fear the torrent though no refuge have I

When I hear the rumble of its threat

وَالوَقتُ لا يَفتَأُ في مَرِّهِ

مُقَرِّباً مِن أَجَلٍ بُعدَه

And time does not cease in its course

Drawing near an end after its distance

فَراقِبِ الخالِقَ بِالغَيبِ في النِ

يامَةِ وَالقِيامَةِ وَالقَعدَه

So be conscious of your Maker unseen

In death and rising and the sitting between