وَتَقولُ عاذِلَتي وَلَيسَ لَها

بِغَدٍ وَلا ما بَعدَهُ عِلمُ

My critic says to me, though she knows not

What tomorrow or the day after holds,

إِنَّ الثَراءَ هُوَ الخُلودُ وَإِنَّ

المَرءَ يُكرِبُ يَومَهُ العُدمُ

That wealth alone makes one immortal. But

Man's day is darkened by impending death.

وَلَئِن بَنيتُ إِلى المُشَقَّرِ في

هَضبٍ تُقَصِّرُ دونَهُ العُصمُ

Though I erect a lofty palace where

None can ascend save mounting eagles,

لَتُنَقِّبَن عَنّي المَنِيَّةُ إِنَّ

اللَهَ لَيسَ لِحُكمِهِ حُكمُ

Yet death will excavate in search of me,

For God's decree cannot reversed be.