لا تَسهُ عَن أَدَبِ الصَغي

رِ وَإِن بَكى أَلمَ التَعَب

Rebuke not a child for his play

Though the teardrops down his cheeks may stray

وَدَعِ الكَبيرَ لِشَأنِهِ

كَبِرَ الكَبيرُ عَنِ الأَدَب

Leave the elders to their affairs

For age has made the elders past cares

حَتّى مَتى وَإِلى مَتى

هَذا التَمادي في اللَعِب

How long, for how long will this persist

This continuance of play not desist

لا تَستَفيقُ وَلا تُفي

قُ وَلا تَمَلُّ مِنَ الطَلَب

Awaken not, nor wakeful stay

Nor cease from seeking night and day

وَالرِزقُ لَو لَم تَأَتِهِ

لأَتاكَ عَفواً مِن كَثَب

And sustenance, if it comes not to thee

Will come to thee unasked, and free

إِن نِمتَ عِنهُ لَم يَنَم

حَتّى يُحَرِّكَهُ السَبَب

If you sleep, it sleeps not until

A cause sets it in motion and fulfill