مَا الدَّهْرُ إِلَّا ضَوْءُ شَمْسٍ عَلا

مَا الدَّهْرُ إِلَّا ضَوْءُ شَمْسٍ عَلا

وَكَوْكَبٌ غَامَ وَنَبْتٌ بَقَلْ

وَكَوْكَبٌ غَامَ وَنَبْتٌ بَقَلْ

Time is but sunlight risen high,

Time is but the light of a sun risen high,

and a star grown dim, and a plant that sprouted,

A star that has set, some herbs that are dry,

وَرَاحِلٌ أَعْقَبَهُ نَازِلٌ

وَرَاحِلٌ أَعْقَبَهُ نَازِلٌ

مَا قِيلَ قَدْ خَيمَ حَتَّى اسْتَقَلْ

مَا قِيلَ قَدْ خَيمَ حَتَّى اسْتَقَلْ

and one departing, followed by one arriving;

A steed, and a rider who passes one by,

no sooner is it said, "He has pitched camp," than he departs.

Things said and heard - as quick as a sigh.

عَمَايَةٌ يَخْبِطُ فِيهَا النُّهَى

عَمَايَةٌ يَخْبِطُ فِيهَا النُّهَى

عَجْزاً وَلا تُبْصِرُ فِيهَا الْمُقَلْ

عَجْزاً وَلا تُبْصِرُ فِيهَا الْمُقَلْ

A darkness in which minds stumble

A blindness wherein the laggards collide

helplessly, and eyes cannot see within it.

Too weak to see what the prudent decides.

فَبَادِرِ النّقْلَةَ وَاعْمَلْ لَهَا

فَبَادِرِ النّقْلَةَ وَاعْمَلْ لَهَا

مَا شِئْتَ فَالدَّهْرُ سَريعُ النُّقَلْ

مَا شِئْتَ فَالدَّهْرُ سَريعُ النُّقَلْ

So hasten to make your move, and work toward it

Seize now the chance ere its promise betides;

as you will, for time is swift in its changes.

Time's nature is ever to shift and to glide.

وَاصْمُتْ عَنِ الشَّرِّ إِذَا لَمْ تُطِقْ

وَاصْمُتْ عَنِ الشَّرِّ إِذَا لَمْ تُطِقْ

دَفْعاً وَإِنْ صَادَفْتَ خَيْراً فَقُلْ

دَفْعاً وَإِنْ صَادَفْتَ خَيْراً فَقُلْ

And keep silent about evil if you cannot

Keep still if unable good counsel to give,

repel it; and if you encounter good, speak.

But speak to advise if you've virtue to live.

وَسِرْ إِذَا مَا عَرَضَتْ فُرْصَةٌ

وَسِرْ إِذَا مَا عَرَضَتْ فُرْصَةٌ

فَالْبَدْرُ قَدْ يَنْمُو إِذَا مَا انْتَقَلْ

فَالْبَدْرُ قَدْ يَنْمُو إِذَا مَا انْتَقَلْ

And go forth when an opportunity presents itself,

Press on if you find that occasion may thrive,

for the full moon may grow when it moves.

The moon's self may wax though diminish it strive.

مَنْ طَلَبَ الأَمْرَ بِأَسْبَابِهِ

مَنْ طَلَبَ الأَمْرَ بِأَسْبَابِهِ

سَاعَدَهُ الْمَقْدُورُ إِمَّا عَقَلْ

سَاعَدَهُ الْمَقْدُورُ إِمَّا عَقَلْ

Whoever seeks a goal through its proper means

Who seeks high position with diligent care

is aided by fate, if he uses reason.

Will find that high providence helps him to dare.

قَدْ يَجْبُنُ الأَعْزَلُ وَهوَ الْفَتَى

قَدْ يَجْبُنُ الأَعْزَلُ وَهوَ الْفَتَى

وَيَشْجُعُ النِّكْسُ إِذَا مَا اعْتَقَلْ

وَيَشْجُعُ النِّكْسُ إِذَا مَا اعْتَقَلْ

An unarmed man may lose courage, though he is valiant,

Though craven be honored, and brave be most rare,

and a weakling grows brave when he takes up a spear.

True courage grows firmer when dangers impair.