إذا صحّ للإنسان قوت وكسوة

إذا صحّ للإنسان قوت وكسوة

وأمن ومألوف من الناس ناصح

وأمن ومألوف من الناس ناصح

If a person is assured of food and clothing,

If a man has enough food and clothes,

and safety, and a companion among people who offers sincere counsel,

And safety and true friends,

فإن لم يكن أمل جزيل وصبية

فإن لم يكن أمل جزيل وصبية

وعيش وإن ضاق الفضاء فصالح

وعيش وإن ضاق الفضاء فصالح

then, even if there is no great hope or children,

Though no great hopes or youthful joy remains,

life is good, even if the expanse grows narrow.

And the days, though confined, are wholesome,

فلا تلزم الأيام ذنبا فإنها

فلا تلزم الأيام ذنبا فإنها

مدبّرة والرزق غاد ورائح

مدبّرة والرزق غاد ورائح

So do not ascribe fault to the days, for they are

Then do not blame the times, for they

governed, and sustenance departs and returns.

Pass on inevitably, and sustenance comes unasked.

فما هي إلا كالبئار وماؤها

فما هي إلا كالبئار وماؤها

عذيب ومر والفقرات ومالح

عذيب ومر والفقرات ومالح

For they are only like wells, whose water is

For times are but cisterns, and their waters

sweetish and bitter, and [unclear: literally “the vertebrae”], and salty.

Are sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet and salt.

هو الدهر لا يعدى على سطواته

هو الدهر لا يعدى على سطواته

فمن حظ محظوظ ومن طاح طائح

فمن حظ محظوظ ومن طاح طائح

Such is Time: there is no redress against its assaults.

Such is fate, and none can change its laws;

So whoever is favored is fortunate, and whoever has fallen is fallen.

Some gain, while others lose, by its decree.