1. كَأَنَّكَ في أُهَيلِكَ قَد أُتيتا

    وَفي الجيرانِ وَيحَكَ قَد نُعيتا

    It is as though you have already been overtaken by death among your dear family,

    And among the neighbors—alas for you!—your death has already been announced.

  2. كَأَنَّكَ كُنتَ بَينَهُم غَريباً

    بِكَأسِ المَوتِ صِرفاً قَد سَقيتا

    It is as though you were a stranger among them,

    Already made to drink the cup of death, unmixed.

  3. أَصبَحتِ المَساكِنُ مِنكَ قَفراً

    كَأَنَّكَ لَم تَكُن فيها غَنيتا

    The dwellings have become desolate without you,

    As though you had never lived in them.

  4. كَأَنَّكَ وَالحُتوفُ لَها سِهامٌ

    مُفَوَّقَةٌ بِسَهمِكَ قَد رُميتا

    It is as though—while death has arrows

    nocked—you have already been struck by the arrow meant for you.

  5. وَإِنَّكَ إِذ خُلِقتَ خُلِقتَ فَرداً

    إِلى أَجَلٍ تُجيبُ إِذا دُعيتا

    And indeed, when you were created, you were created alone,

    Until an appointed time; you answer when you are called.

  6. إِلى أَجَلٍ تُعَدُّ لَكَ اللَيالي

    إِذا وَفَّيتَ عِدَّتَها فَنيتا

    Until an appointed time, the nights are counted for you;

    When you have completed their number, you perish.

  7. وَكُلُّ فَتىً تُغافِصُهُ المَنايا

    وَيُبليهِ الزَمانُ كَما بَليتا

    And every young man is caught unawares by death,

    And time wears him away, just as you have been worn away.

  8. فَكَم مِن موجَعٍ يَبكيكَ شَجواً

    وَمَسرورِ الفُؤادِ بِما لَقيتا

    So how many a grief-stricken person weeps for you in sorrow,

    And how many are glad at heart at what has befallen you.