لا تَسكُنَنَّ إِلى سُكونٍ إِنَّما

عُذرُ الفَتى أَلّا يُرى مُحرَنجِما

Do not settle into tranquility, for

The youth's excuse is not to be seen downcast.

مُستَأنِساً بِالأَهلِ كَيما يُجتَوى

مُتَوَشِّحاً بِالفَقرِ فيهِم مُعدِما

Finding comfort with family as if healed,

Wrapped in poverty amongst them, destitute.

فَتَأَلَّفِ السُهّادَ في طَلَبِ العُلى

وَاِستَصحِبِ السَيفَ الحُسامَ المِخذَما

So befriend the pillows in seeking the heights,

And take along the sharp sword that destroys.

فَالطَيرُ لَولا أَنَّها جَوّالَةٌ

لَم تُلفِ في أَوكارِهِنَّ المَطعَما

For if birds did not wander,

They would not find food in their nests.

قَد جاءَ في الأَمثالِ قَولٌ سائِرٌ

لِمُهَذَّبٍ وَزَنَ الكَلامَ وَقَوَّما

There is a common saying,

Of one refined, who weighs speech and straightens it:

لا خَيرَ في رَجُلٍ يُجالِسُ عِرسَهُ

وَيَبيعُ قُرطَيها إِذا ما أَعدَما

"No good in a man who sits with his bride

And sells her earrings when impoverished."