إِذا المَرء لَم يَحتل وَقَد جَدّ جَدّه

أَضاعَ وَقاسى أَمره وَهوَ مدبرُ

If a man does not seize the moment when it comes his way,

He wastes his life and fate maltreats him while he ponders.

وَلَكِن أَخو الحَزم الَّذي لَيسَ نازلا

بِهِ الأَمرُ إِلا وَهوَ لِلقَصد مبصرُ

But the man of resolution acts while others sleep,

Events do not deter him nor find him unready.

فَذاكَ قَريعُ الدَّهرِ ما عاشَ حَولَهُ

إِذا سدّ مِنهُ منخرٌ جاشَ منخرُ

Throughout his life he hustles while others are idle;

If nostrils sleep, he wakes up their nostrils!