تعجّبت من المرء وذك

تعجّبت من المرء وذك

ر الموت يشجيه

ر الموت يشجيه

I marvelled at man, and the remembrance

I wonder at a man, though intelligent,

of death saddens him,

Who grieves for death that is destined to come;

ويهدوى العَيش

ويهدوى العَيش

And rejoices for this life

yet he loves life [uncertain reading].

Renewed by fate for a time, then fated to pass away;

كما جدّدهُ الدهر كذا

كما جدّدهُ الدهر كذا

ك الدهر يبليه

ك الدهر يبليه

Just as time renews him, so

And leads surely to death,

too does time wear him away,

Despite wishes and striving;

ومفضيه إلى الموت

ومفضيه إلى الموت

المنى والحرص حاديه

المنى والحرص حاديه

and bring him to death,

Good deeds will meet their doer,

with hopes and greed as his camel-driver.

And evil will find its master;

وما قدّم من فعل

وما قدّم من فعل

جميل فهو لاقيه

جميل فهو لاقيه

And whatever deed he has sent ahead

The Almighty will requite it.

that is good—he will meet it;

ومن قدم شرا

ومن قدم شرا

فيه فالجبار يجزيه

فيه فالجبار يجزيه

and whoever has sent evil ahead

in it, the Almighty will requite him.