لِكُلِّ أَمرٍ جَرى فيهِ القَضا سَبَبُ

وَالدَهرُ فيهِ وَفي تَصريفِهِ عَجَبُ

For every matter whose fate has run its course, there is a cause,

And time itself, in its unfolding, is wondrous.

ما الناسُ إِلّا مَعَ الدُنيا وَصاحِبِها

فَكَيفَ ما اِنقَلَبَت يَوماً بِهِ اِنقَلَبوا

People are but companions of the world and her friend;

How then, when she is overturned one day, are they not overturned?

يُعَظِّمونَ أَخا الدُنيا وَإِن وَثَبَت

يَوماً عَلَيهِ بِما لا يَشتَهي وَثَبوا

They esteem the brother of this world though he revolt

Against them with that which they do not desire, yet they revolt not.

لا يَحلِبونَ لِحَيٍّ دَرَّ لَقحَتِهِ

حَتّى يَكونَ لَهُم صَفّو الَّذي حَلَبوا

They do not milk a gallant stallion until

His choicest milk is that which they have milked.