وَفي قَبضِ كَفِ الطّفلِ عِندَ وَلادِهِ

وَفي قَبضِ كَفِ الطّفلِ عِندَ وَلادِهِ

دَليلٌ عَلى الحِرصِ المُرَكَّبِ في الحَيِّ

دَليلٌ عَلى الحِرصِ المُرَكَّبِ في الحَيِّ

And in the clenching of a child's hand at his birth

In the infant's tight-fisted grip at birth

In the clenching of the child's fist at the moment of birth

is proof of the greed ingrained in the living.

There's proof of the compound greed in life

Is a sign of the greed compounded in the living soul;

وَفي بَسطِها عِندَ المَماتِ مَواعِظٌ

وَفي بَسطِها عِندَ المَماتِ مَواعِظٌ

أَلا فَاِنظِروني قَد خَرَجتُ بِلا شَيِّ

أَلا فَاِنظِروني قَد خَرَجتُ بِلا شَيِّ

And in its opening at death are admonitions:

And in its spread hand at death there are lessons

And in its opening at the time of death are lessons:

Behold, so look at me: I have departed with nothing.

Look at me, for I have departed with nothing

"Look upon me, for I have departed with nothing."