1. The stench of your wrongdoing is a harsh wind,
While the fragrance of your good deed is a gentle breeze.
١. لِفَعالِكَ المَذمومُ ريحُ حَوابِسٍ
وَلِفِعلِكَ المَحمودِ رَيّا تَفَغَمُ
2. Nature has set this as the rule, so you'll never see
A rock speak out, nor a lizard grumble.
٢. وَالطَبعُ أَحكَمَهُ المَليكُ فَلَن تَرى
حَجَراً يَقولُ وَلا هِزبَراً يَبغُمُ
3. And if you rise up against fate as a rebel,
You may persist, but you will only choke.
٣. وَإِذا غَدَوتَ عَلى القَضاءِ مُغالِباً
فَأَذاكَ تَستَمري وَأَنفُكَ تَرغَمُ
4. Can lifting up evil bring about its end?
A straying one might be content with a meagertuft.
٤. أَيَكونُ رَفعٌ لِلشُرورِ فَيَنتَهي
غاوٍ وَيَقنَعُ بِالنَباتِ الضَيغَمِ
5. Death is the truest and most certain event,
Yet it seems a sweet lie that brings joy.
٥. وَالمَوتُ أَصدَقُ حادِثٍ وَأَصَحُّهُ
وَكَأَنَّهُ كَذِبٌ يُسَرُّ فَيَنغُمُ