قصير مدى ما لا ينال طويل

قصير مدى ما لا ينال طويل

وما كلّ ما تهوى إليه سبيل

وما كلّ ما تهوى إليه سبيل

Even a short distance to the unattainable is long.

Short is the reach of what cannot be grasped

And not everything you desire has a path leading to it.

Not every desire finds a way

وللمرء أسباب عليهنّ سعيه

وللمرء أسباب عليهنّ سعيه

يقصّر أحيانا بها ويطيل

يقصّر أحيانا بها ويطيل

And a person has means on which his striving depends;

People have reasons that determine their efforts

Through them he sometimes cuts it short and sometimes prolongs it.

Sometimes shortening, sometimes prolonging

وللدهر علات فخذ منه عفوه

وللدهر علات فخذ منه عفوه

وإلا فكلّ في الصفاء عليل

وإلا فكلّ في الصفاء عليل

And time has its ills, so take what it freely gives;

Time has its ups and downs, accept its pardon

Otherwise, all is ailing even in its purity.

Otherwise all is unwell even in calm

ولم ار كالمعروف أمّا مذاقه

ولم ار كالمعروف أمّا مذاقه

فحلوٌ وأمّا وجهه فجميل

فحلوٌ وأمّا وجهه فجميل

And I have seen nothing like kindness: as for its taste,

I have not seen anything like kindness

It is sweet; and as for its face, it is beautiful.

Sweet is its taste and beautiful its face