أَيُّ عَيشٍ يَكونُ أَبلَغَ مِن عَي

شٍ كَفافٍ قوتٍ بِقَدرِ البَلاغِ

What life could be more eloquent than one

Of bare subsistence, food enough to live?

صاحِبُ البَغيِ لَيسَ يَسلَمُ مِنهُ

وَعَلى نَفسِهِ بَغى كُلُّ باغِ

The wrongdoer cannot escape unharmed,

And wrongs himself does every wrongful man.

رُبَّ ذي نِعمَةٍ تَعَرَّضَ مِنها

حائِلٌ بَينَهُ وَبَينَ المَساغِ

Full many with blessings are beset, but find

Between them and enjoyment barriers rise.

أَبلَغَ الدَهرُ في مَواعِظِهِ بَل

زادَ فيهِنَّ لي عَلى الإِبلاغِ

Most eloquent of teachers is old age;

It tells me more than finest words convey.

غَبَنَتني الأَيّامُ عَقلي وَمالي

وَشَبابي وَصِحَّتي وَفَراغي

My reason, wealth, and youth the days betrayed,

My health and leisure too are now betrayed.