كَأنَّما العالَمُ ضَأنٌ غَدَت

كَأنَّما العالَمُ ضَأنٌ غَدَت

لِلرَعيِ وَالمَوتُ أَبو جَعدَه

لِلرَعيِ وَالمَوتُ أَبو جَعدَه

As though the world were sheep gone out in the morning

The world is like a flock of sheep

to graze, and Death were Abu Ja'da, the wolf.

For grazing and death their shepherd

فَهادِجٌ حامِلُ عُكّازَةٍ

فَهادِجٌ حامِلُ عُكّازَةٍ

وَفارِسٌ مُعتَقِلٌ صُعدَه

وَفارِسٌ مُعتَقِلٌ صُعدَه

So one totters along, carrying a walking stick,

A rider bearing a lance

and a horseman holds a straight spear.

And a horseman holding the reins

وَآخَرٌ يُدرِكُ مَن قَبلُهُ

وَآخَرٌ يُدرِكُ مَن قَبلُهُ

وَيَترُكُ الدُنِّيا لِمَن بَعدَه

وَيَترُكُ الدُنِّيا لِمَن بَعدَه

And another catches up with those before him,

Another overtakes those gone before

and leaves the world to those after him.

And leaves the world for those after

عَيشٌ كَما تَعهَدُ لا مُخلِفٌ

عَيشٌ كَما تَعهَدُ لا مُخلِفٌ

وَعيدَهُ بَل مُخلِفٌ وَعدَه

وَعيدَهُ بَل مُخلِفٌ وَعدَه

Life, as you know it, never fails to carry out

A life true to its promise, not failing

its threat, but fails to keep its promise.

Rather failing is he who promised

هَل يَأمَنُ البِرجيسُ في عِزِّهِ

هَل يَأمَنُ البِرجيسُ في عِزِّهِ

مِن قَدَرٍ يُعدِمُهُ سَعدَه

مِن قَدَرٍ يُعدِمُهُ سَعدَه

Is Jupiter, in its might, safe

Can the archer feel secure in his power

from a fate that strips it of its good fortune?

From a fate that would undo his fortune?

كَأَنَّما النَجمُ لِخَوفِ الرَدى

كَأَنَّما النَجمُ لِخَوفِ الرَدى

تَأخُذُهُ مِن فَرَقٍ رِعدَه

تَأخُذُهُ مِن فَرَقٍ رِعدَه

As though the star, for fear of death,

As if the star recoiled in fear of demise

were seized by a shudder of terror.

That seizes it amidst the thunder's din

كَم لِاِبنٍ في الأَرضِ لَم يُدَكَّر

كَم لِاِبنٍ في الأَرضِ لَم يُدَكَّر

لُبَناهُ مُذ بانَ وَلا دَعدَه

لُبَناهُ مُذ بانَ وَلا دَعدَه

How many a son in the earth has not been reminded

How many a son on earth unfettered

of his Lubna since he departed, nor of his Da'd.

Has built his nest since youth began?

أُحاذِرُ السَيلَ وَمَن لي بِمُن

أُحاذِرُ السَيلَ وَمَن لي بِمُن

جاةٍ إِذا أَسمَعَني رَعدَه

جاةٍ إِذا أَسمَعَني رَعدَه

I fear the torrent; who can give me

I fear the torrent though no refuge have I

refuge when it makes me hear its thunder?

When I hear the rumble of its threat

وَالوَقتُ لا يَفتَأُ في مَرِّهِ

وَالوَقتُ لا يَفتَأُ في مَرِّهِ

مُقَرِّباً مِن أَجَلٍ بُعدَه

مُقَرِّباً مِن أَجَلٍ بُعدَه

And time, in its passing, never ceases

And time does not cease in its course

to bring a distant appointed end nearer.

Drawing near an end after its distance

فَراقِبِ الخالِقَ بِالغَيبِ في النِ

فَراقِبِ الخالِقَ بِالغَيبِ في النِ

يامَةِ وَالقِيامَةِ وَالقَعدَه

يامَةِ وَالقِيامَةِ وَالقَعدَه

So be mindful of the Creator in secret, in

So be conscious of your Maker unseen

sleep, standing, and sitting.

In death and rising and the sitting between