وَقائِلَةٍand a woman saying قُمrise وَاِسعَand strive فيin طَلَبِpursuit of الغِنىwealth
وَقائِلَةٍ قُم وَاِسعَ في طَلَبِ الغِنى
فَكَيفَso how يَقومُcan rise المَرءُa man وَالدَهرُwhile Time قاعِدُsitting
فَكَيفَ يَقومُ المَرءُ وَالدَهرُ قاعِدُ
And a woman says, “Rise and strive in pursuit of wealth.”
A speaker says, arise and seek wealth far and wide
How, then, can a man rise while Time sits idle?
How can one arise when time sits idle?
إِذاif لَمnot يَكُنbe وَقتُthe time of الرَخاءِease بِدائِمٍlasting
إِذا لَم يَكُن وَقتُ الرَخاءِ بِدائِمٍ
فَأَحرىthen all the more likely بِهاfor them أَنthat لاnot تَدومَendure الشَدائِدُhardships
فَأَحرى بِها أَن لا تَدومَ الشَدائِدُ
If a time of ease does not last,
If the days of ease are not everlasting
Then it is all the more likely that hardships will not endure.
Then it's best for the days of hardship not to endure