1. تريدونَ مني أن تُسيؤوا وتبخَلوا

    ويختصَّ بالأيامِ دونكُم الذَّمُّ

    You want this of me: you do wrong and are miserly,

    And the days alone—not you—receive the blame.

  2. وما جارتِ الأقدارُ فيما جرت به

    ولا شاءَ بعضَ الفضلِ والأدبِ النجمُ

    Yet the fates were not unjust in what they brought about,

    Nor did the star will any share of excellence and learning.

  3. ولكنكم أبغضتموه لجهلكُم

    وأحبَبتُم المالَ الذي حبُّه وَصمُ

    But you hated it because of your ignorance,

    And loved wealth, the love of which is a stain.

  4. فأنتم عن العلياءِ عُميٌ لحبّهِ

    وعن سائلِ المعروفِ من أجله صُمُّ

    So, for love of it, you are blind to the heights of honor,

    And for its sake, deaf to anyone asking for kindness.

  5. وما جارتِ الأيامُ إلا لَميلها

    إليكم وفي تقديمها لكمُ الغشمُ

    The days have been unjust only in their leaning

    Toward you; in giving you precedence lies blind injustice.