1. They prognosticate though they know not, if asked
About the mosquito, whence it alights upon them.
١. يُنَجِّمونَ وَما يَدرونَ لَو سُئِلوا
عَنِ البَعوضَةِ أَنّى مِنهُمُ تَقِفُ
2. Boredom with their vain pursuits divided them;
Each party thinks they have the truth.
٢. وَفَرَّقَتهُم عَلى عِلّاتِها مِلَلٌ
وَعِندَ كُلِّ فَريقٍ أَنَّهُم ثَقِفوا
3. Leave the desert for the braggarts to consume,
For they are like ostriches feeding there.
٣. دَعِ البَريَّةَ لِلخُطبانِ تَأكُلُهُ
فَإِنَّهُم كَنَعامٍ فيهِ يُنتَقَفُ
4. If their houses knew their hidden disgraces
Their roofs would collapse upon them without delay.
٤. وَلَو دَرَت بِمَخازيهِم بُيوتُهُم
هَوَت عَلَيهِم وَلم تُنظِرهُمُ السُقُفُ