صبرتُ على غدرِ الزمانِ وحقدهِ

صبرتُ على غدرِ الزمانِ وحقدهِ

وشابَ لي السُّمَ الزعافَ بشهده

وشابَ لي السُّمَ الزعافَ بشهده

I endured the treachery of time and its malice,

I have been patient with the betrayals and malice of fate,

And it mixed deadly poison with its honey for me.

And the poison of disappointment has turned sweet in my mouth.

وجربتُ إخوان الزمان فلم أَجد

وجربتُ إخوان الزمان فلم أَجد

صَديقاً جميلَ الغيب في حال بعده

صَديقاً جميلَ الغيب في حال بعده

I tested the companions of the age, but did not find

I have known the friends of time, but found not one

A friend loyal in absence when far away.

To be a loyal comrade when absent.

وكم صَاحِبٍ عَاشَرتُه وألفتُه

وكم صَاحِبٍ عَاشَرتُه وألفتُه

فما دَام لي يوماً على حُسنِ عهده

فما دَام لي يوماً على حُسنِ عهده

And many a companion I befriended and grew fond of,

How many a friend I associated with and befriended,

Yet not for a day did he remain true to his pledge to me.

Yet he did not stand by me a single day, breaking his vows.

وأغربُ من عنقاءَ في الدّهر مغرب

وأغربُ من عنقاءَ في الدّهر مغرب

أَخو ثقة يسقيك صافي ودِّه

أَخو ثقة يسقيك صافي ودِّه

And rarer through all time than the elusive Anqa

More estranged than a wild ostrich am I in this world,

Is a trustworthy brother who gives you his pure affection to drink.

Is the brother of trust who gives you the clear wine of his affection.

بنفسك صادِم كل امرٍ تُريده

بنفسك صادِم كل امرٍ تُريده

فليسَ مضاءُ السّيف الا بحده

فليسَ مضاءُ السّيف الا بحده

On your own, confront every undertaking you desire;

Throw yourself against every matter you wish to accomplish,

For a sword's cutting power lies only in its edge.

For the sword does not shine save by its edge.

وعَزمك جرِّد عِند كلِّ مهمةٍ

وعَزمك جرِّد عِند كلِّ مهمةٍ

فما نافعٌ مكثُ الحسامِ بغمدهِ

فما نافعٌ مكثُ الحسامِ بغمدهِ

And unsheathe your resolve for every weighty task;

And let your resolve be stripped for every important task,

For a keen sword is useless while it stays in its sheath.

Useless is the lingering of swords in their sheaths.

وشَاهدتُ في الأسفار كلَّ عجيبةٍ

وشَاهدتُ في الأسفار كلَّ عجيبةٍ

فلم أَرَ من نالَ جِدا بجدِّه

فلم أَرَ من نالَ جِدا بجدِّه

And in my travels I witnessed every marvel,

I have witnessed every wonder in my travels,

Yet I saw no one attain good fortune through his diligence.

But saw none who succeeded by his effort alone.

فكُن ذا اقتصادٍ في امورك كلها

فكُن ذا اقتصادٍ في امورك كلها

فأحسنُ أحوال الفتَى حسن قصده

فأحسنُ أحوال الفتَى حسن قصده

So be moderate in all your affairs,

So be moderate in all your affairs,

For a young man's best state is soundness of purpose.

For the best of conditions is the youth’s moderation.

وما يُحرمُ الانسانُ رزقاً لعجزه

وما يُحرمُ الانسانُ رزقاً لعجزه

كما لا ينال الرِّزقَ يوماً بكَدِّه

كما لا ينال الرِّزقَ يوماً بكَدِّه

And a man is not denied sustenance because of his inability,

Man cannot be deprived of rizq due to inability,

Just as he never gains sustenance through his toil.

Just as he cannot attain provision by toil alone.

حُظوظُ الفَتَى من شقوةٍ وسعادة

حُظوظُ الفَتَى من شقوةٍ وسعادة

جَرَت بقضاءٍ لا سبيلَ لردِّه

جَرَت بقضاءٍ لا سبيلَ لردِّه

A young man's shares of misery and happiness

The fortunes of youth, be they hardship or joy,

Have come to pass by a decree that cannot be reversed.

Are by a decree that cannot be repelled.