أقول لمنكر فقري قنوعا

أقول لمنكر فقري قنوعا

بكسب فيه ضرّ وامتناع

بكسب فيه ضرّ وامتناع

I say to one who censures my poverty, content

I say to the one who denies my poverty, being content

with earnings marked by hardship and denial:

With earnings that bring harm and abstention

مدحت الناس والدنيا عروسٌ

مدحت الناس والدنيا عروسٌ

وما تحويه من خير متاع

وما تحويه من خير متاع

I praised people while the world was a bride,

People and the world were praised as a bride

and the good she held was a delight.

And whatever good belongings it contains

فلمّا صارت الدنيا عجوزا

فلمّا صارت الدنيا عجوزا

لها شمطٌ وليس لها قناع

لها شمطٌ وليس لها قناع

But when the world became an old woman,

But when the world became an old woman

with gray-streaked hair and no veil,

With wrinkles and no veil

تناهبها اللئام وكلّ ذئب

تناهبها اللئام وكلّ ذئب

وحالت دون جدواها الساع

وحالت دون جدواها الساع

the base and every wolf plundered her,

The wicked plunder it, and every wolf

and the hours barred access to her bounty.

And the hours have come between it and its usefulness

تركت الشعر للراضين منها

تركت الشعر للراضين منها

بما يرضى به القوم الجياع

بما يرضى به القوم الجياع

I left poetry to those content to take from her

I left poetry for those who are pleased with it

what hungry folk are content with.

With what satisfies the hungry people

وصنت النفس عن مدح وذمّ

وصنت النفس عن مدح وذمّ

وترداد إلى السفل الرعاع

وترداد إلى السفل الرعاع

And I kept my soul from praising and censuring,

And I protected my soul from praise and blame

and from repeated visits to the base rabble.

And returning to the lowly rabble

وقلت لها اقصري فالموت آتٍ

وقلت لها اقصري فالموت آتٍ

وكلّ وديعة فلها ارتجاع

وكلّ وديعة فلها ارتجاع

And I told my soul: "Desist, for death is coming,

And I said to it, shorten, for death is coming

and whatever is entrusted must be reclaimed."

And every deposit will be taken back

يعفّ الليث عن صيد ابن آوى

يعفّ الليث عن صيد ابن آوى

ويغلب بعد ما غلب الشجاع

ويغلب بعد ما غلب الشجاع

The lion refrains from hunting a jackal,

The lion spares prey of one who took refuge

and the brave man is defeated after having prevailed.

And overcomes after overcoming the brave

أأطلبُ الغنى عن غير حظّ

أأطلبُ الغنى عن غير حظّ

وهل أغنى بلا ربح سراع

وهل أغنى بلا ربح سراع

Am I to seek wealth without good fortune?

Shall I seek wealth without a share

And can I grow rich without swift gain?

Can one become wealthy without swift gain?