1. Greed and desire humble mankind,
Yet the generous may pardon when offended.

2. When truth is clear, do not let it go -
For whenever you taste truth,

3. You find it cooler than frivolity,
Like cool water when it is pure and fresh.

4. One who does not care whether he rules justly or not
Cannot be called a judge.

5. Every summary has a purpose,
Every issue has an answer,

6. Every event has its time,
And every worker will be judged.

7. Whoever aspires has a limit,
And every worker will be judged.

8. All safety predicts doom,
And all building predicts ruin.

9. Every ruler will one day
Possess only what his hands can hold together.

10. The eyes of every seer refuse
To see in this world anything but chaos and change,

11. As if the beauties of this world were a mirage,
And what hand can grasp a mirage?

12. If death takes something prematurely,
You rejoice in it, yet it will depart.

13. How strange to die while you build,
And make structures and palaces!

14. I see that whenever you close one door
To the world, you open another.

15. Do you not see that each new day
Brings you closer to your death?

16. One who knows he will die
Should not relish food or drink.

17. A mighty king arranges what we see,
Though events have witnessed his coming and going.

18. Is not God always near,
Ready to answer when called?

19. Have you not seen one who prays to God disappointed,
Or one who hopes in God betrayed?

20. I saw the spirit grow barren of life
When I knew life was labor and trial.

21. You cannot defeat desire
Until you prepare for it patience and acceptance.

22. Every great and feared calamity
Grows small when you hope for reward.

23. We have grown old, my friends,
Though once we were youths.

24. We were like bending branches,
Scented blossoms, in the meadow.

25. How long did our childhood last
In a home where I saw only plunder and piracy?

26. What can an old man or graybeard do
When a mature graybeard behaves like a youth?

27. I fled to dyeing the gray hair
For his recklessness exposed the dye!

28. My youth left me without farewell -
But in God I seek recompense for my youth.

29. There is no fate but death
For one whose youth and vigor are spent.

30. You cannot regain your youth when
Your beard asks you for dye.