1. The young perish and the old pass away
The nights roll on and the evenings go by

2. When a night grows old, its day comes after
A youthful day follows thereafter

3. We come and go for our needs
But the needs of one alive are endless

4. A man's needs die with him
Yet one need stays as long as he lives

5. If you say to one you see someday
"Have you not seen how Luqman advised his son?"

6. I advised Umar, and how excellent was my advice:
"My son, men's secret talk has shown its evil,

7. So match their talk with guarded speech,
And let your secret be with no other man,

8. For the secret of three is no secret.
All gloom equals the night you dread.

9. Seek rhyming verse if you speak it out,
For much speech lacks cadence.

10. Show me the mysteries, and I'll show you riches,
As silence is nearer than some speech.

11. Let the soul shun following desire,
For the youth gets not all he craves."