يَا وَاعِظَ النَّاسِ عَمَّا أَنْتَ فَاعِلُهُ

يَا وَاعِظَ النَّاسِ عَمَّا أَنْتَ فَاعِلُهُيَا مَنْ يُعَدُّ عَلَيْهِ العُمْرُ بِالنَّفَسِ

Yā wāʿiẓa an-nāsi ʿammā anta fāʿiluhu, Yā man yuʿaddu ʿalayhi al-ʿumru bi-an-nafasi

O you who exhort people to give up what you yourself do, O you whose life is counted out breath by breath,

اِحْفَظْ لِشَيْبِكَ مِنْ عَيْبٍ يُدَنِّسُهُإِنَّ البَيَاضَ قَلِيلُ الحَمْلِ لِلدَّنَسِ

Iḥfaẓ lishaybika min ʿaybin yudannisuhu, Inna al-bayāḍa qalīlu al-ḥamli lilddanasi

Guard your grey hair from any fault that would stain it, for white bears little stain.

كَحَامِلٍ لِثِيَابِ النَّاسِ يَغْسِلُهَاوَثَوْبُهُ غَارِقٌ فِي الرِّجْسِ وَالنَّجَسِ

Kaḥāmilin lithiyābi an-nāsi yaghsiluhā, Wathawbuhu ghāriqun fī ar-rijsi wa-an-najasi

You are like one who carries people's clothes to wash them, while his own garment is steeped in filth and impurity.

تَبْغِي النَّجَاةَ وَلَمْ تَسْلُكْ طَرِيقَتَهَاإِنَّ السَّفِينَةَ لَا تَجْرِي عَلَى اليَبَسِ

Tabghī an-najāta walam tasluk ṭarīqatahā, Inna as-safīnata lā tajrī ʿalā al-yabasi

You seek salvation yet do not walk its path; a ship does not sail on dry land.

رُكُوبُكَ النَّعْشَ يُنْسِيكَ الرُّكُوبَ عَلَىمَا كُنْتَ تَرْكَبُ مِنْ بَغْلٍ وَمِنْ فَرَسِ

Rukūbuka an-naʿsha yunsīka ar-rukūba ʿalā, Mā kunta tarkabu min baghlin wamin farasi

Your riding on the bier will make you forget riding on the mules and horses you used to ride.

يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ لَا مَالٌ وَلَا وَلَدٌوَضَمَّةُ القَبْرِ تُنْسِي لَيْلَةَ العُرْسِ

Yawma al-qiyāmati lā mālun walā waladun, Waḍammatu al-qabri tunsī laylata al-ʿursi

On the Day of Resurrection there is no wealth and no children, and the squeeze of the grave makes one forget the wedding night.