فَقالَت الغَزاله

لا خَير في الإِطاله

The gazelle said:

There is no good in prolonging

عَلَيكَ بالسكوت

وَاِقنَعي بِالقوت

Be quiet

And be content with sustenance

وَخالِفي هَواك

وَخادِعي أَعداك

Go against your desires

And deceive your enemies

وَدافِعي الأَياما

وَجامِلي الأَناما

Defend the days

And treat people kindly

وَاِجتَنِبي اللِئاما

وَفارِقي المَلاما

Avoid the wicked

And part from the blamers

وَواصلي من وَصلك

وَارفدي من أَملك

Maintain ties with those tied to you

And help those who have hope in you

وَاِنتَظِري المَنيه

وَقَصري الأمنيه

Await death

And shorten wishes

وِشاوِري الصديقا

وَلازِمي التحقيقا

Consult the righteous friend

And adhere to the truth

لا تعجلي فَتعطبي

لا تَشرهي فَتَشجبي

Don’t rush and thus fail

Don’t be impetuous and thus regret

فَقالَت الصدوح

إِن الحَياة ريح

The sincere friend said:

Life is but wind

قَد عصي النَّصيح

وَاستحسن القَبيح

That disobeyed advice

And deemed ugly as beautiful

فَسدت الأَخلاق

وَكثر النفاق

Morals have been corrupted

And hypocrisy spread

وَلَيسَ إِلا الصبر

خَير البُيوت القبر

Only patience is best

The grave better than homes

لا غم مثل الياس

لا هم غَير الناس

No sorrow like despair

No worry but people

وَعاد كُل ورجع

وَقَد أَفادَ وَنَفَع

All will return and come back

Having benefited and helped

تَم الحَديث وَخَتم

وَكُل شَيء يَنصرم

The talk has ended and concluded

And everything passes