إذا الجدّ لم يُسعد فجدّ الفتى لعب

إذا الجدّ لم يُسعد فجدّ الفتى لعب

وابطل سَعيٍ سَعيُ من جدّ في طَلَب

وابطل سَعيٍ سَعيُ من جدّ في طَلَب

If fortune does not favor him, a young man's earnest striving is mere play.

If earnestness brings not fortune, then play, O youth, and seek

And the most futile striving is that of one who strives earnestly in pursuit.

Abandon striving done in earnest quest and grave pursuit -

فكم ضيعةٍ ضاعت وكم خلّةٍ خَلَت

فكم ضيعةٍ ضاعت وكم خلّةٍ خَلَت

وكم فضّة فضّت وكم ذهبٍ ذَهَب

وكم فضّة فضّت وكم ذهبٍ ذَهَب

For how many estates were lost, and how many friendships vanished!

How many a homestead lies waste, how many a heart lies sapped,

And how much silver was scattered, and how much gold went away!

How much of silver's fused away, how much of gold's been shaped!