1. When will you resist foolish passions,
And oppose the rebellious soul in old age?
١. مَتَى أَنْتَ عَنْ أُحْمُوقَةِ الْغَيِّ نَازِعُ
وَفِي الشَّيْبِ لِلنَّفْسِ الأَبِيَّةِ وَازِعُ
2. Surely in youth there are twenty-nine excuses
For every fool to turn away from vanity.
٢. أَلا إِنَّ فِي تِسْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ حِجَّةً
لِكُلِّ أَخِي لَهْوٍ عَنِ اللَّهْوِ رَادِعُ
3. So wine will gradually overcome you in return,
And doves will moan for your nights.
٣. فَحَتَّامَ تُصِيْبُكَ الْغَوَانِي بِدَلِّهَا
وتَهْفُو بِلِيتَيْكَ الْحَمامُ السَّوَاجِعُ
4. Is there no warner from the past generations before you
To stop you from this? Yes, but you are still greedy.
٤. أَمَا لَكَ فِي الْمَاضِينَ قَبْلَكَ زَاجِرٌ
يَكُفُّكَ عَنْ هَذَا بَلَى أَنْتَ طَامِعُ
5. Can a man recover from the intoxication of youth
If calamities do not educate him on both sides?
٥. وَهَلْ يَسْتَفِيقُ الْمَرْءُ مِنْ سَكْرَةِ الصِّبَا
إِذَا لَمْ تُهَذِّبْ جَانِبَيهِ الْوَقَائِعُ
6. A man sees the omens of death around him
Yet he goes to amuse himself and flirt.
٦. يَرَى الْمَرْءُ عُنْوَانَ الْمَنُونِ بِرَأْسِهِ
وَيَذْهَبُ يُلْهِي نَفْسَهُ وَيُصَانِعُ
7. Beware, these nights creep like scorpions,
And time is a deceitful wolf.
٧. أَلا إِنَّمَا هَذِي اللَّيَالِي عَقَارِبٌ
تَدِبُّ وَهَذَا الدَّهْرُ ذِئْبٌ مُخَادِعُ
8. Do not assume time is a jesting companion,
It only turns and brings catastrophes.
٨. فَلا تَحْسَبَنَّ الدَّهْرَ لُعْبَةَ هَازِلٍ
فَمَا هُوَ إِلا صَرْفُهُ وَالْفَجَائِعُ
9. Sometimes a lad sleeps feeling safe
Then wakes to find opportunities closed.
٩. فَيَا رُبَّمَا بَاتَ الْفَتَى وَهْوَ آمِنٌ
وَأَصْبَحَ قَدْ سُدَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الْمَطَالِعُ
10. Of what use is hoarding armor and sharp arrows,
While life is wasted and time misspent?
١٠. فَفِيمَ اقْتِنَاءُ الدِّرْعِ وَالسَّهْمُ نَافِذٌ
وَفِيمَ ادِّخَارُ الْمَالِ وَالْعُمْرُ ضَائِعُ
11. A lad wishes to gather all wealth to himself
Not knowing what God will decree.
١١. يَوَدُّ الْفَتَى أَنْ يَجْمَعَ الأَرْضَ كُلَّهَا
إِلَيْهِ وَلَمَّا يَدْرِ مَا اللهُ صَانِعُ
12. Wealth may become one's ruin for his Lord's sake,
And afterward, ambitions come to him.
١٢. فَقَدْ يَسْتَحِيلُ الْمَالُ حَتْفاً لِرَبِّهِ
وَتَأْتِي عَلَى أَعْقَابِهِنَّ الْمَطَامِعُ
13. Days pass according to their destiny,
Denying the toiler while sustaining the calm.
١٣. أَلا إِنَّمَا الأَيَّامُ تَجْرِي بِحُكْمِهَا
فَيُحْرَمُ ذُو كَدٍّ وَيُرْزَقُ وَادِعُ
14. Do not sit watching how time tricks you
With regret, for God both gives and denies.
١٤. فَلا تَقْعُدَنْ لِلدَّهْرِ تَنْظُرُ غِبَّهُ
عَلَى حَسْرَةٍ فَاللَّهُ مُعْطٍ وَمَانِعُ
15. If a lad received only as much as he deserves,
No seeker of evil would sleep hungry.
١٥. فَلَوْ أَنَّ ما يُعْطَى الْفَتَى قَدْرُ نَفْسِهِ
لَمَا بَاتَ رِئْبَالُ الشَّرَى وَهْوَ جَائِعُ
16. Leave everyone to walk in their own way,
Resisting passions as much as he can resist.
١٦. وَدَعْ كُلَّ ذِي عَقْلٍ يَسِيرُ بِعَقْلِهِ
يُنَازِعُ مِنْ أَهْوَائِهِ مَا يُنَازِعُ
17. I know people only as I know myself,
And knowing a thing benefits one beforehand.
١٧. فَمَا النَّاسُ إِلَّا كَالَّذِي أَنَا عَالِمٌ
قَدِيماً وَعِلْمُ الْمَرْءِ بِالشَّيءِ نَافِعُ
18. I am no knower of mysteries; rather,
I see with reason's eye what will happen.
١٨. وَلَسْتُ بِعَلَّامِ الْغُيُوبِ وَإِنَّما
أَرَى بِلِحَاظِ الرَّأْيِ مَا هُوَ وَاقِعُ
19. Leave them to their sedition; it is but a trial
Among which, after a little, there are fallen ones.
١٩. وَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا إِنَّمَا هِيَ فِتْنَةٌ
لَهُمْ بَيْنَهَا عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ مَصَارِعُ
20. If man knew what will come to pass,
No reveler would sleep nor stirrer awake.
٢٠. فَلَوْ عَلِمَ الإِنْسَانُ مَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ
لَمَا نَامَ سُمَّارٌ وَلا هَبَّ هَاجِعُ
21. These bodies are only animated forms
Within which the souls reside.
٢١. وَمَا هَذِهِ الأَجْسَامُ إِلَّا هَيَاكِلٌ
مُصَوَّرَةٌ فِيهَا النُّفُوسُ وَدَائِعُ
22. Where are the ancient kings who ascended
The heights of glory? Earth now wears their ruins.
٢٢. فَأَيْنَ الْمُلُوكُ الأَقْدَمُونَ تَسَنَّمُوا
قِلالَ الْعُلا فَالأَرْضُ مِنْهُمْ بَلاقِعُ
23. They passed away; time continued and afterward
Kings took their place, perished, and vanguards came.
٢٣. مَضَوْا وَأَقَامَ الدَّهْرُ وَانْتَابَ بَعْدَهُمْ
مُلُوكٌ وَبَادُوا وَاسْتَهَلَّتْ طَلائِعُ
24. I see every living creature going by the hand of fate.
Will any of those who migrated return?
٢٤. أَرَى كُلَّ حَيٍّ ذَاهِبَاً بِيَدِ الرَّدى
فَهَلْ أَحَدٌ مِمَّنْ تَرَحَّلَ رَاجِعُ
25. I cry loudly asking about them -
Do you hear, O time of wonders? Are you listening?
٢٥. أُنَادِي بِأَعْلَى الصَّوْتِ أَسْأَلُ عَنْهُمُ
فَهَلْ أَنْتَ يَا دَهْرَ الأَعَاجِيبِ سَامِعُ
26. If you have not heard a call or roused
Any reply, what is it I dispute with you?
٢٦. فَإِنْ كُنْتَ لَمْ تَسْمَعْ نِدَاءً وَلَمْ تُحِرْ
جَوَاباً فَأَيُّ الشَّيءِ أَنْتَ أُنَازِعُ
27. An illusion, by my life! Its seeker profits naught,
And it is a regret over which fingers are pressed.
٢٧. خَيَالٌ لَعَمْرِي لَيْسَ يُجْدِي طِلابُهُ
وَمَأْسَفَةٌ تُدْمَى عَلَيْهَا الأَصَابِعُ
28. Who can I turn to when death's specters are
The phantom of a visionary with whom crafts prosper?
٢٨. فَمَنْ لِي وَرَوْعَاتُ الْمُنَى طَيْفُ حَالِمٍ
بِذِي خُلَّةٍ تَزْكُو لَدَيْهِ الصَّنَائِعُ
29. I share my love with him and confide my secret to his hearing,
Suggest to him my wishes while he is unperturbed.
٢٩. أُشَاطِرُهُ وُدِّي وَأُفْضِي لِسَمْعِهِ
بِسِرِّي وَأُمْلِيهِ الْمُنَى وَهْوَ رَابِعُ
30. Perhaps if I find comfort in speech
I may pour out bitterness community streets have watered.
٣٠. لَعَلِّي إِذَا صَادَفْتُ فِي الْقَوْلِ رَاحَةً
نَضَحْتُ غَلِيلاً مَا رَوَتْهُ الْمَشَارِعُ
31. By the life of my father - and he is the one whom if I recall
No pot will crack nor swindler scheme.
٣١. لَعَمْرُ أَبِي وَهْوَ الَّذِي لَوْ ذَكَرْتُهُ
لَما اخْتَالَ فَخَّارٌ وَلا احْتَالَ خَادِعُ
32. My soul would not have disputed its rights with me
Or debased me to greedy men.
٣٢. لَمَا نَازَعَتْنِي النَّفْسُ فِي غَيْرِ حَقِّهَا
وَلا ذَلَّلَتْنِي لِلرِّجَالِ المَطَامِعُ
33. As for me and the world - it is luxury and pleasure
For one with leisure upon whom beds wait.
٣٣. وَمَا أَنَا وَالدُّنْيَا نَعِيمٌ وَلَذَّةٌ
بِذِي تَرَفٍ تَحْنُو عَلَيْهِ الْمَضَاجِعُ
34. No sword lies useless, no opinion unconsulted,
No flint idle, nor stallion stalled.
٣٤. فَلا السَّيْفُ مَفْلُولٌ وَلا الرَّأْيُ عَازِبٌ
وَلا الزَّنْدُ مَغْلُولٌ وَلا السَّاقُ ظَالِعُ
35. Rather, I live amongst a people no noble one arose amongst
Nor did one noble of sword mount its stirrup.
٣٥. وَلَكِنَّنِي فِي مَعْشَرٍ لَمْ يَقُمْ بِهِمْ
كَرِيمٌ وَلَمْ يَرْكَبْ شَبَا السَّيْفِ خَالِعُ
36. They flirt with names foolishly
And peddle titles - those are their wares.
٣٦. لَوَاعِبُ بِالأَسْمَاءِ يَبْتَدِرُونَهَا
سَفَاهاً وَبِالأَلْقَابِ فَهْيَ بَضَائِعُ
37. What lineage is there in titles if traits
Are not adorned with deeds?
٣٧. وَهَلْ فِي التَّحَلِّي بِالْكُنَى مِنْ فَصِيلَةٍ
إِذَا لَمْ تُزَيَّنْ بِالْفَعَالِ الطَّبائِعُ
38. I socialize with them resentfully. I wish
I had some boon through them I could call and they would hasten.
٣٨. أُعَاشِرُهُم رَغْمَاً وَوُدَّي لَوْ انَّ لِي
بِهِمْ نَعَماً أَدْعُو بِهِ فَيُسَارِعُ
39. O people, life is but an opportunity
And time has many blocked, perilous roads.
٣٩. فَيَا قَوْمُ هُبُّوا إِنَّمَا الْعُمْرُ فُرْصَةٌ
وَفِي الدَّهْرِ طُرْقٌ جَمَّةٌ وَمَنافِعُ
40. Be patient with the touch of humiliation while you
Are many pebbles. I will return to God.
٤٠. أَصَبْرَاً عَلَى مَسِّ الْهَوَانِ وَأَنْتُمُ
عَدِيدُ الْحَصَى إِنِّي إِلَى اللَّهِ رَاجِعُ
41. How do you see humiliation as any place to stay
When God's grace on earth is vast?
٤١. وَكَيْفَ تَرَوْنَ الذُّلَّ دَارَ إِقَامَةٍ
وَذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ فِي الأَرْضِ وَاسِعُ
42. I see heads that have ripened for their reaping.
Where, O where are the cutting swords?
٤٢. أَرَى أَرْؤُسَاً قَدْ أَيْنَعَتْ لِحَصَادِهَا
فَأَيْنَ وَلا أَيْنَ السُّيُوفُ الْقَوَاطِعُ
43. Be harvested, lying vanquished, or take fright
And flee to war until an avenger drives away oppression.
٤٣. فَكُونُوا حَصِيداً خَامِدِينَ أَوِ افْزَعُوا
إِلَى الْحَرْبِ حَتَّى يَدْفَعَ الضَّيْمَ دَافِعُ
44. I roused only for the voice to return, fulfilling no need.
Echo answered me while complying.
٤٤. أَهَبْتُ فَعَادَ الصَّوْتُ لَمْ يَقْضِ حَاجَةً
إِلَيَّ وَلَبَّانِي الصَّدَى وَهْوَ طَائِعُ
45. I did not know that God formed before you
Statues with no hearing created for them.
٤٥. فَلَمْ أَدْرِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ صَوَّرَ قَبْلَكُمْ
تَمَاثِيلَ لَمْ يُخْلَقْ لَهُنَّ مَسَامِعُ
46. Do not call these hearts for they are
Jugs with ribs bent over them.
٤٦. فَلا تَدَعُوا هَذِي الْقُلُوبَ فَإِنَّهَا
قَوَارِيرُ مَحْنِيّ عَلَيْهَا الأَضَالِعُ
47. Set them upright with rational ascent
Where zeal for spears burst and they are deserted.
٤٧. وَدُونَكُمُوهَا صَعْدَةً مَنْطِقِيَّةً
تَفُلُّ شَبَا الأَرْمَاحِ وَهْيَ شَوَارِعُ
48. Travellers move by them in every abode
And communities yearn for them in passion.
٤٨. تَسِيرُ بِهَا الرُّكْبَانُ فِي كُلِّ مَنْزِلٍ
وَتَلْتَفُّ مِنْ شَوْقٍ إِلَيْهَا الْمَجَامِعُ
49. Among them some have night shelters and necklaces
While others have mosques.
٤٩. فَمِنْهَا لِقَوْمٍ أَوْشُحٌ وَقَلائِدٌ
وَمِنْهَا لِقَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ جَوَامِعُ
50. Beware - those are the same that if they descended
Upon a mountain, it would tumble down humbled.
٥٠. أَلا إِنَّها تِلْكَ الَّتِي لَوْ تَنَزَّلَتْ
عَلَى جَبَلٍ أَهْوَتْ بِهِ فَهْوَ خَاشِعُ