ياO عامِرَbuilder of الدُنياthe world عَلىdespite شَيبِهِhis gray hair
يا عامِرَ الدُنيا عَلى شَيبِهِ
فيكَin you أَعاجيبُwonders لِمَنfor whoever يَعجَبُmarvels
فيكَ أَعاجيبُ لِمَن يَعجَبُ
O builder of the world, despite your gray hair,
O world-builder in your old age,
In you are wonders for anyone who marvels.
In you are wonders for one who wonders.
ماwhat عُذرُexcuse مَنone who يَعمُرُflourishes بُنيانُهُhis building
ما عُذرُ مَن يَعمُرُ بُنيانُهُ
وَعُمرُهُand his lifetime مُستَهدَمٌbeing torn down يُخربُis laid waste
وَعُمرُهُ مُستَهدَمٌ يُخربُ
What excuse has one whose building flourishes,
No excuse for one who builds his building,
While his lifetime is being torn down, laid waste?
Yet his life is wasting away and crumbling.