ما كرَّم اللّه بني آدمٍ

إذ كان أمْسى منهمُ خالدُ

God did not honor the children of Adam

When the lowliest of them became eternal.

واللّه لو أنَّهم خُلِّدوا

حتى يبيد الأبد الآبدُ

By God, even if they were made eternal

Until the endless eternity passed away,

وسُخِّرَ البرُّ لهمْ مركَباً

والبحرُ أنَّى قصد القاصِدُ

And good deeds were made their vehicle

And the sea wherever the traveler went,

ودوَّخُوا الجنَّ فدانتْ لهمْ

وأذعن العِفْريتُ والماردُ

And they subdued the jinn who then obeyed them

And the defiant and rebellious submitted,

وأصبح الدهرُ حفيّاً بهم

كأنه من برِّه والدُ

And time became their retainer

As though it was his child and birth,

واستوت الأقدار في خُطَّةٍ

فليس محسودٌ ولا حاسدُ

And destinies became equal in distribution

So none envied or were envious,

ولم يكن داءٌ ولا عاهةٌ

فالعيش صافٍ شرْبُهُ بارِدُ

And there was no illness or disability

And life was pure its drinking cool,

ودامت الدنيا لهم غضّةً

كأنها جارية ناهدُ

And the world remained ever verdant for them

As though it was a compliant maiden,

ما كُلِّفوا الشكر وقد ضمهم

وخالدُ اللْؤمِ أبٌ واحدُ

They were not burdened with gratitude though it embraced them,

And the wretched ingrate was but one.