قَطَعَ الدَهرُ بِأَسبابِ العِلَل

وَأَعارَ السَهوَ أَيّامَ الأَجَل

Time has cut off the causes of infirmities,

And lent inadvertence to the days of death.

أَلِفَ اللَذَّةَ حَتّى اِعتادَها

وَاِشتَهى الراحَةَ وَاِستَوطا الكَسَل

It has accustomed itself to pleasure till desiring it,

And craved rest while inclined to laziness.

فَهوَ الدَهر يُقَضّي أَمَلاً

وَلَعَلَّ المَوتَ في طَيِّ الأَمَل

Thus time destroys hope,

And perhaps death lies in the folds of hope.

يُحسِنُ القَولَ إِذا قالَ وَلا

يَتَحَرّى حَسَناً فيما فَعَل

It speaks well when it speaks but does not

Take care to act well in what it does.

صَيَّر القَولَ بِجَهلِ عَمَلا

ثُمَّ أَجراهُ عَلى مجرى العَمَل

It has made speech, through ignorant deed,

Then set it on the course of action.

لَيتَهُ كانَ كَما قالَ وَلا

يَقطَعُ الأَيّامَ إِلّا بِالجَدَل

Would that it were as it said, and did not

Cut off the days save in disputation.