1. لا يُبْعِدُ اللَّه أسلافاً لنا سَبقوا

    ولو بقُوْا للَقوا ما لا يحبونا

    May God not forsake our forebears who went before us.

    Had they lived on, they would have met what they would not like.

  2. كيف العزاءُ وما في العيش مغتبط

    ولا اغتباطَ لأقوامٍ يموتونا

    How can there be consolation, when life holds nothing to rejoice in,

    and no joy belongs to people who die?

  3. متى تَعِشْ قبليَ الأحياءُ يدركنا

    وإن تمتْ قبليَ الأمواتُ يعفونا

    If you live, the living before me overtake us (wording unclear).

    And if you die, the dead before me efface us (wording unclear).

  4. لا بد من ميتة للمرء أو هَرَم

    يظل منه جليدُ القوم موهونا

    There is no escaping death or decrepit old age,

    which leaves even the hardiest of men enfeebled.

  5. والبيضُ والجون لا نهوى فراقَهما

    ولا نزال نذم البيضَ والجونا

    The white and the dark—we do not wish to part with either,

    yet we never cease blaming the white and the dark.

  6. وكل لهوٍ لَهاه الناسُ مَشغلةٌ

    عن ذكر ما هم من الأحداث لاقونا

    Every amusement people indulge in is a distraction

    from remembering the calamities they will encounter.

  7. فإنْ لهوا فدفاعُ الهمِّ حقّهُمُ

    وإن بكوا فذوو الأشجان باكونا

    So if they amuse themselves, warding off worry is their right;

    and if they weep, those who bear sorrows are weepers.

  8. ولا يقينَ لأقوامٍ وإن زعموا

    وما يقينُ أناسٍ لا يُعدّونا

    People have no certainty, even if they claim it;

    what certainty have people who make no preparations?

  9. لو أيقن الناس جَدُّوا في أمورهُمُ

    وكيف يوقن قومٌ لا يَجِدُّونا

    If people had certainty, they would strive earnestly in their affairs;

    and how can people be certain when they do not strive?