عَامِلْ زمانَكَ إنَّ النَّقصَ شِيمَتُهُ

بِضدِّ ما تَبْتَغِيهِ منهُ واقْتَنِعِ

Treat your time well, for shortcoming is its trait

With the opposite of what you seek from it, be content

أعْرِضْ عن الشَّيء إنْ تَهواهُ تَحْظَ بهِ

واحْرِصْ عَليهِ إذا تَأْباهُ يَمتَنِعِ

Turn away from what you crave and you'll be granted it

Strive for what you dislike and it will evade you

قَد أقسم الدَّهر أيْماناً مُغَلَّظَةً

أنْ لَيْسَ يُنجِحُ حِرْصاً فاسْعَ أو فَدَعِ

Time has sworn binding oaths

That no striving, either effort or abstinence, will thrive