1. No harm in the distress and misery of illness,
For with the sickness of body may come health of soul.

2. The rocks' deafness brought us no gems,
Except with the cold of time and its sun.

3. And the body is the soul's shield when
It is protected as the quiver protects its arrows.

4. Do not hate anything, for through it
Good may come to you, like Joseph in the outcome of his imprisonment.

5. Time is an adversary, but it wants
To wrestle with the valiant for their vigor.

6. Do not despair of time, for perhaps
The youth may attain his hopes through despair.

7. God does as He wills, so do not be
Of those who will be judged for their yesterdays.

8. One finds no rest from misfortunes
Until he is hidden in the sides of his burial.

9. Two conditions, if one were given the choice between them,
Would keep a man wavering confused in his guesswork.

10. But better than them is that in which is God's good pleasure,
For that is a mercy from His Holiness.

11. How often the cup of fate passes, but when
The cup of death flows, its bitterness is sweetened.

12. O you who have worn the armor of purity tomorrow
Of David's make, triumphing in its wearing,

13. And have planted it, reaping the good praise
Above what you will gain from its planting,

14. All are jealous in protecting their bodies,
O you who are jealous in protecting your soul!

15. When you scorned fate, its course struck you,
But your soul cannot be reached by its touch.

16. The body is of this time and its earth,
And everything has a weakness from its own species.