أباO Abu الفَتحِal-Fath إنْif ناصحْتَyou sincerely counseled نفسَكَyourself لمnot تبِعْsell
أبا الفَتحِ إنْ ناصحْتَ نفسَكَ لم تبِعْ
بمُنتَظَرfor something awaited منfrom بَعدِafterward ماwhat هُوَit مُحْتَضَرْat hand
بمُنتَظَر من بَعدِ ما هُوَ مُحْتَضَرْ
O Abū al-Fatḥ, if you truly counseled yourself, you would not trade
O Abu al-Fath, if you counsel yourself sincerely, you will not sell
what is present for something merely awaited thereafter.
what is at hand for what is awaited later.
نصحْتَyou counseled الوَرىhumankind فانصَحِْso counsel لنِفسِكَfor yourself ساعَةًan hour
نصحْتَ الوَرى فانصَحِْ لنِفسِكَ ساعَةً
مضىhas passed أمسِyesterday فاسْعَso strive اليَومَtoday إنَّindeed غَداًtomorrow غَرَرْuncertainty
مضى أمسِ فاسْعَ اليَومَ إنَّ غَداً غَرَرْ
You have counseled all mankind; now counsel yourself for but an hour.
You have counseled humankind; so counsel yourself for an hour.
Yesterday is gone; strive today, for tomorrow is uncertain.
Yesterday has passed; so strive today, for tomorrow is uncertain.
