طالَ التَبَسُّطُ مِنّا في حَوائِجِنا

طالَ التَبَسُّطُ مِنّا في حَوائِجِنا

وَإِنَّما نَحنُ فَوقَ الأَرضِ أَضيافُ

وَإِنَّما نَحنُ فَوقَ الأَرضِ أَضيافُ

Long have we indulged ourselves in pursuing our needs,

Long has our dependence on favors persisted

yet we are only guests upon the earth.

Though we on earth are but guests residing

يُريدُ خِلٌّ خَليلاً كَي يُوافِقُهُ

يُريدُ خِلٌّ خَليلاً كَي يُوافِقُهُ

في الطَبعِ هَيهاتَ إِنَّ الناسَ أَخيافُ

في الطَبعِ هَيهاتَ إِنَّ الناسَ أَخيافُ

A friend seeks a close friend to match him

One seeks a friend, his nature reflecting

in temperament—far from it! People are of different kinds.

In vain! For people's natures clash without ending

لَولا التَخالُفُ لَم تركُض لِغارَتِها

لَولا التَخالُفُ لَم تركُض لِغارَتِها

خَيلٌ وَلَم تُقنَ أَرماحٌ وَأَسيافُ

خَيلٌ وَلَم تُقنَ أَرماحٌ وَأَسيافُ

Were it not for discord, there would be no galloping out to raid

If not for enmity, none would race to battle

by horses, nor would spears and swords be acquired.

Wielding their steeds, spears and swinging swords