يا لحظه الفتّاك رفقاً بامرئٍ

يا لحظه الفتّاك رفقاً بامرئٍ

يقضي عليه تيقظ ومنام

يقضي عليه تيقظ ومنام

O his deadly glance, be gentle with a man

O murderous moment, have mercy on a man

whom wakefulness and sleep doom.

Whose waking and sleeping bring his end.

فإذا تنبه رعته وإذا غفا

فإذا تنبه رعته وإذا غفا

سلت عليه سيوفك الأحكام

سلت عليه سيوفك الأحكام

So when he wakes, you frighten him; and when he dozes,

When he's alert, go gently on him,

the decrees unsheathe your swords against him.

And when he sleeps, put away your swords.