لا تغبطن ذليلاً في معيشته

فالموت أهون من عيش على مضض

Do not envy a wretch for his life,

Envy not a humiliated man his livelihood,

For death is easier than living in pain.

For death is easier than a life of bitter pain.

لا يوجع الصخر نحتُ المرء جانبه

ولا من الذل ذو لبٍّ بممتعض

A rock is not hurt from carving its side,

The rock feels no pain when a man chisels its side,

Nor one with dignity, from disgrace is distressed.

Nor is a man of intellect aggrieved by indignity.