قَد غَدَتِ النَحلُ إِلى نورِها

وَيحَكِ يا نَحلُ لِمَن تَكسِبين

The bees have come to their hive,

Buzzing bee, for whom do you toil?

يُجيءُ مُشتارٌ بِآلاتِهِ

فَيَلسَبُ الأَريَ وَلا تَلسِبين

The tax collector comes with his tools,

He takes the honey and you take nothing.

أَتَحسَبينَ العُمرَ عِلماً بِهِ

لا بَل تَعيشينَ وَلا تَحسَبين

Do you think life is about knowledge?

No, you live yet reckon nothing.

هَل لَكِ بِالآباءِ مِن خِبرَةٍ

كَم والِدٍ في زَمَنٍ تَنسِبين

What news do you have of ancestors?

How many fathers' times do you trace?

أَتَحسَبينَ الدَهرَ ذا غَفلَةٍ

هَيهاتَ ما الأَمرُ كَما تَحسَبين

Do you think time is forgetful?

Alas, things are not as you reckon.