ألا خَيْرُ ما لِلْمَرءِ عَقْلٌ يَزيْنُهُ

فإنْ لم يَكُنْ عَقْلٌ فَجاهٌ ينفِّقُهْ

Behold, the best a man can have is reason to adorn him,

Else influence to promote him if no reason be his;

وإِلّا فمالٌ ساتِرٌ مِنْ عُوارِهِ

وما خيرُ سِتْرٍ قَدْ يُخافُ تَمَزُّقُهْ

Or wealth to veil his defects should reason miss him;

But the best of veils is that which naught can pierce.

فإنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ مِنْ ذِي الثَّلاثَةِ واحِدٌ

فأوْلى لَهُ نارٌ مِنَ اللهِ تُحرِقُهْ

If a man lack all three means let hell fire burn him;

'Tis best for him from his Lord in flames to perish.