1. By your Lord, have you seen a mind more foolish than mine?
Is there on the face of the earth a more stupid fool than me?

2. How much knowledge and good culture do I claim to have,
Yet every ignorant person is above my ignorance!

3. I mix with the lowest of the low,
Yet I am not of their kind, nor are they of my kind.

4. I spent my life this way, full of contradictions,
Joking when serious, serious when joking.

5. How many days have passed when you almost saw me
With no clothes on my body or shoes on my feet.

6. And as my situation grew more dire,
When matters became most difficult, you heard no complaint from me.

7. Then I saw the mouth of death smiling,
As the dawn of good fortune shone in the gloom of terror.

8. So I forgot all the baseness that I had gone through,
And I spent lavishly and was excessive in spending.

9. And I may have wasted it all, while still
Wearing the same clothes and shoes as I was before.

10. Surely this behavior shows nothing but foolishness,
Supported by a mind free of madness.

11. Yes, I have merit, but my conduct covers it up.
I have merit, even if I am a person of merit.

12. And if a radiant face passes by and I see it,
My mind flies in longing when I see it.

13. And my eyes follow its footsteps,
Even if I am busy - what a loss of being busy!

14. My soul rests if I happen to recognize it,
Otherwise I look around and keep asking.

15. I get so angry I turn into hell itself,
And I dream until hardship turns into honor.

16. God has decreed that I remain unique, without
A loving father, a compassionate mother, or family.

17. A stranger, even though my dwelling is my hometown,
Alone, even though my peers are as many as ants.

18. And my drunkenness forces my observers
To give me a look of disgrace and humiliation.

19. And I rush to commit sins,
While if I intend good deeds, there are shackles on my feet.

20. So there is no satisfactory life or honorable earning -
Did the Merciful create anyone like me among His creatures?