1. يَعيشُ المَرءُ في أَمَلٍ

    يُرَدِّدُهُ إِلى الأَبَدِ

    A man lives in hope,

    repeating it for all eternity.

  2. يُؤَمِّلُ ما يُؤَمِّلُ مِن

    صُنوفِ المالِ وَالوَلَدِ

    He hopes for what he hopes for of

    the many kinds of wealth and children.

  3. وَلا يَدري لَعَلَّ المَو

    تَ يَأَتي دونَ بَعدِ غَدِ

    And he does not know: perhaps death

    will come before the day after tomorrow,

  4. فَلا يُبقي لِوالِدِهِ

    وَلا يُبقي عَلى وَلَدِ

    so it leaves nothing for his father,

    nor does it spare any child.