إذا الجدّ لم يُسعد فجدّ الفتى لعب

وابطل سَعيٍ سَعيُ من جدّ في طَلَب

If earnestness brings not fortune, then play, O youth, and seek

Abandon striving done in earnest quest and grave pursuit -

فكم ضيعةٍ ضاعت وكم خلّةٍ خَلَت

وكم فضّة فضّت وكم ذهبٍ ذَهَب

How many a homestead lies waste, how many a heart lies sapped,

How much of silver's fused away, how much of gold's been shaped!