1. The leader of heedlessness is hope
And desire is the leader of slipups
١. قائِدُ الغَفلَةِ الأَمَل
وَالهَوى قائِدُ الزَلَل
2. Ignorance killed its people
And every reasonable one survived
٢. قَتَلَ الجَهلُ أَهلَهُ
وَنَجا كُلُّ مَن عَقَل
3. So make use of the time of peace
And resume your work
٣. فَاِغتَنِم دَولَةَ السَلا
مَةِ وَاِستَأنِفِ العَمَل
4. O you who built with shortcomings
And gray hair has crept up on you
٤. أَيُّها المُبتَني القُصو
رَ وَقَد شابَ وَاِكتَهَل
5. Gray hair informed about you
That your end is near
٥. أَخبَرَ الشَيبُ عَنك أَن
نَك في آخِرِ الأَجَل
6. Why then stand still
In the yard of incapacity and laziness
٦. فَعَلامَ الوُقوفُ في
عَرصَةِ العَجزِ وَالكَسَل
7. You are in an abode, that once inhabited
The dweller leaves
٧. أَنتَ في مَنزِل إِذا
حَلَّهُ نازِلٌ رَحَل
8. An abode that ceaselessly torments
And distresses the dweller
٨. مَنزِلٍ لَم يَزَل يَضي
قُ وَيَنبو بِمَن نَزَل
9. So prepare for a journey
No camel undertakes
٩. فَتَأَهَّب لِرِحلَةٍ
لَيسَ يَسعى بِها جَمَل
10. A journey that has always been
Throughout time, abhorred to start
١٠. رِحلَةٍ لَم تَزَل عَلى
الدَهرِ مَكروهَةَ القَفَل