يا أَيُّها الجاهِلُ الجاري لِيُدركَني

يا أَيُّها الجاهِلُ الجاري لِيُدركَني

أَقصِر فإِنَّكَ إِن أَدرَكتَ مَصروعُ

أَقصِر فإِنَّكَ إِن أَدرَكتَ مَصروعُ

O ignorant one, running to catch me,

O ignorant one who is trying to reach me,

Desist, for if you catch me, you will be struck down.

Desist, for if you catch up you will be struck down.

يا كَعبُ لا تَك كالعَنزِ الَّتي بحثت

يا كَعبُ لا تَك كالعَنزِ الَّتي بحثت

عَن حَتفِها وَجَنابُ الأَرضِ مَربوعُ

عَن حَتفِها وَجَنابُ الأَرضِ مَربوعُ

O Kaʿb, do not be like the goat that dug

O Ka'b, be not like the she-goat who searched

for its own death, while the surrounding land was lush with spring growth.

For her death, while the surface of the earth was uneven.