رَأَيتُ صَغير الاِمرِ تَنمي شُؤونَه

فَيَكبُر حَتّى لا يَحد وَيَعظُم

I saw the small in rank grow in his affairs

Until he became great with no limit to his greatness

وَإِن عَناءاً أَن تَفهَم جاهِلا

فَيَحسَب جَهلا أَنَّهُ مِنكَ اِفهَم

And though it wearies you to make a fool understand

He reckons you a fool, he who understands not

مَتى يَبلُغ البُنيانُ يَوماً تَمامَه

اِذا كُنت تَبنيهِ وَغَيرك يَهدِم

When will a building one day reach completion

If you build it while another demolishes?

مَتى يفضل المَثري اِذا ظَنَّ اِنَّهُ

اِذا جادَ بِالشَيءِ القَليلِ سَيعدم

When will the generous exceed if he supposes

That if he gives little, he will have nothing left?

مَتى يَنتَهي عَن سيء مِن اِتى بِهِ

اِذا لَم يَكُن مِنهُ عَلَيهِ تَندَم

When will one desist from the evil he has done

If he feels no remorse for what he has done?

وَما الرِزقُ إِلّا قِسمَة بَين اِهلِه

فَلا يَعدم الأَرزاقِ مثر وَمُعدَم

Livelihood is but a division among its people

So neither wealthy nor destitute will lack sustenance

وَلَن يَستَطيعُ الدَهر تَغيير خَلقِه

لَئيم وَلن يَستَطيعه مُتكرم

Time will never change its nature

Whether it be despicable or honorable

كَما إِن ماء المزن ما ذيق سائِغ

زلال وَماء البَحرِ يَلفِظُه الغَم

Just as the water of bitterness never tasted sweet

While the ocean's water makes one retch