لايَذهَبَنَّ بِكَ الأَمَل

حَتّى تُقَصِّرَ في العَمَل

Let not hope lead you astray

Until you fall short in deed

إِنّي أَرى لَكَ أَن تَكو

نَ مِنَ الفَناءِ عَلى وَجَل

I see you ought to be

Saved from demise in haste

فَقَدِ استَبانَ الحَقُّ وَاِتَّضَ

حَ السَبيلُ لِمَن عَقَل

Truth is now lucid and plain

The path clear for one of reason

ما لي أَراكَ بِغَيرِ نَفسِ

كَ لا أَبالَكَ تَشتَغِل

What is this I see, not yourself you serve

I care not what keeps you preoccupied

خُذ لِلوَفاةِ مِنَ الحَيا

ةِ بِحَظِّها قَبلَ الأَجَل

Take from life for the deceased

Their share before it's too late

وَاِعلَم بِأَنَّ المَوتَ لَي

سَ بِغافِلٍ عَمَّن غَفَل

Know that death spares no one oblivious

Of those who were oblivious

ما إِن رَأَيتُ الوالِدا

تِ يَلِدنَ إِلّا لِلثَكَل

Whenever I saw mothers bear children

It was but for bereavement

فَكَأَنَّ يَومَكَ قَد أَتى

يَسعى إِلَيكَ عَلى عَجَل

As if your day has arrived

Rushing towards you in haste

وَكَأَنَنَني بِالمَوتِ أَغفَ

لَ ما تَرى بِكَ قَد نَزَل

As if I see death has forgotten you

Unaware of what has befallen you

أَينَ المَرازِبَةُ الجَحا

جِحَةُ البَطارِقَةُ الأُوَلُ

Where are the lords grand and imposing

The veterans and the early generations

وَذَو التَفاضُلِ في المَجا

لِسِ وَالتَرَفُّلِ في الحُلَل

Of lavish attire and status

Platforms, councils and retinues

وَذَو المَنابِرِ وَالأَسِرَّ

ةِ وَالمَحاضِرِ وَالخَوَلِ

Scenes of battle, cunning and tricks

Swept by oceans of affliction, all sunk low

وَذَو المَشاهِدِ في الوَغى

وَذَو المَكايِدِ وَالحِيَل

None survived after their time

Except tales and lore

سَفَلَت بِهِم لُجَجُ المَنيَّ

ةِ كُلُّهُم فيمَن سَفَل

Rise and mourn yourself while able

As long as you have time to spare

لَم يَبقَ مِنهُم بَعدَهُم

إِلّا حَديثٌ أَو مَثَل

Bear not the burdens of time

That cannot be endured

قُم فَاِبكِ نَفسَكَ وَاِرثِها

ما دُمتَ وَيحَكَ في مَهَل

Numerous are the afflictions of time

So beware of such afflictions

لا تَحمِلَنَّ عَلى الزَما

نِ فَما عَلَيهِ مُحتَمَل

Thanks be to God who remains

Constant, and always was

عِلَلُ الزَمانِ كَثيرَةٌ

فَتَوَقَّ مِن تِلكَ العِلَل

If you are conscious of God

Godliness is the best voluntary act

فَالحَمدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذي

هُوَ لا يَزالُ وَلَم يَزَل

When a young man is conscious of God

In all he desires, he is perfected

وَإِنِ اِتَّقَيتَ فَإِنَّ تَق

وى اللَهِ مِن خَيرِ النَفَل

وَإِذا اِتَّقى اللَهَ الفَتى

فيما يُريدُ فَقَد كَمَل