1. إِن كانَ قَلبُكَ فيهِ خَوفُ بارِئِهِ

    فَلا تُجاوِز حِذارَ اللَهِ بِالحَسَدِ

    If your heart holds fear of its Maker,

    Then do not let envy override your fear of God.

  2. هُما نَقيضانِ لا يَستَجمِعانِ بِهِ

    وَالظَبيُ غَيرُ مُقيمٌ في ذَرا الأَسَدِ

    The two are opposites that cannot coexist within it,

    And the gazelle does not dwell in the lion’s shelter.

  3. وَالرَوحُ في حُبِّ دُنياها مُعَذَّبَةٌ

    حَتّى يُقالُ لَها بِيني عَنِ الجَسَدِ

    And the soul is tormented in its love of its earthly life,

    Until it is told, “Depart from the body.”

  4. ما لا تُطيقُ هَلاكٌ حينَ تَحمِلُهُ

    وَالدَرُّ يَهلِكُ دونَ النَظمِ في المَسَدِ

    What you cannot bear is ruin when you carry it,

    And pearls perish before they can be strung on a twisted rope.