1. بِالأَرضِ أُستاهُمُ عَجزاً وَأَنفُهُمُ

    عِندَ الكَواكِبِ بَغياً يا لِذا عَجَبا

    Their backsides are on the ground in helplessness, while their noses

    are up among the stars in insolence—what a wonder!

  2. وَلَو أَصابُوا كُراعاً لاَ طَعامَ لَهُم

    لَم يُنضِجُوها وَلَو أَعطَوا لَها حَطَبا

    Even if they came by a mere shank when they had no food,

    they would not cook it through, even if they were given firewood for it.

  3. تَرَقُّشَ العَثِّ فِي بَطنِ الأَدِيمِ فَما

    نَالُوا بِذلِكُمُ تَقوىً وَلا نَشَبا

    Moths would mottle it inside the hide; and so

    by that they gained neither piety nor wealth.