ما أبقتِ الدُّنيا على ناسِكٍ

ما أبقتِ الدُّنيا على ناسِكٍ

كَلّا ولا تَمَّت لِمُسْتهتِرِ

كَلّا ولا تَمَّت لِمُسْتهتِرِ

The world has spared no ascetic;

The world did not abide pious folk,

No, nor has it been perfect for a heedless reveler.

No, nor were joyous lived by those who jest,

سُرورُها يُشرِف عن حُزْنِها

سُرورُها يُشرِف عن حُزْنِها

كأنَّها ضِحكَةُ مُستَعْبرِ

كأنَّها ضِحكَةُ مُستَعْبرِ

Its joy peeks out from its sorrow,

Its joy outweighs its sorrows,

As though it were the laugh of one in tears.

As though it were a smile seen through a tear.