ألا ربّ أمرٍ بتّ أحذر غِبَّهُ

وقد نابني فيه العناءُ المُجَشِّمُ

Oh Lord, a matter I feared its misfortune

And in it I faced grave adversity

غدا وهو سِرٌّ لا يُرامُ اِطّلاعُهُ

وعادَ مساءً وهو نَهْبٌ مُقَسَّمُ

Tomorrow while it's a secret, glimpsing it isn't desired

And it returned in the evening, divided spoils

تندّمتُ في أعجازه حين لم يكنْ

وقد فاتَ مِن كفّيَّ إلّا التّندُّمُ

I regretted during its conclusion when it wasn't

And nothing remains in my hands except regret

وما خانني التّدبير فيه وإنّما

قضاءٌ جرى فيما سخطتُ مبرَّمُ

Planning didn't fail me in it, but rather

A decree flowed in what I loathed, decisive

ولو كان لا يَكْدِي أخو الحزمِ مرّةً

ويُشوى لما مات الصّحيحُ المُسَلَّمُ

If the wise brother doesn't get burned once

And get cooked, the correct and surrendered wouldn't die

وَمَن ذا الّذي يُعطي الإدارةَ كلَّها

ومَن ذا الّذي في الأمر لا يُتَلَوَّمُ

And who is it that gives all management?

And who is it not pained in the matter?

إذا شئتَ أنْ تلقَ السَّلِيمَ عَدِمْتَه

وأكثرُ مَن تلقى المُرَزَّى المُكَّلَمُ

If you want to meet the healthy, you'll lose him

And most who you meet are the ill and bound

وأغبنُ مَن تلقى من النّاس جاهلٌ

يظنّ الّذي يُخفيه لا يُتَعَلَّمُ

Most foolish is he who meets an ignorant from people

Thinking what he hides isn't learned

ومسترسلٍ في فعله بعد ما بدا

لعينيه جهراً ما يَزِمّ ويَخطمُ

And one who continues his deeds after it appeared

Clearly to his eyes what is forbidden and unlawful