بَليتَ وَما تَبلى ثِيابُ صِباكا

كَفاكَ مِنَ اللَهوِ المُضِرِّ كَفاكا

You are worn out, yet the clothes of your youth show no wear.

Enough of harmful amusements! You've had enough.

أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ الشَيبَ قَد قامَ ناعِياً

مَقامَ الشَبابِ الغَضِّ ثُمَّ نَعاكا

Don't you see grey hairs announcing,

in place of tender youth, the call to your grave?

تَسَمَّع وَدَع مَن أَغلَقَ الغَيُّ سَمعَهُ

كَأَنّي بِداعٍ قَد أَتى فَدَعاكا

Listen, and leave those whose hearing is shut to advice,

as though a caller had come to summon you away.

أَلا لَيتَ شِعري كَيفَ أَنتَ إِذا القُوى

وَهَت وَإِذا الكَربُ الشَديدُ عَلاكا

Oh, if only I knew how you will be when strength decays,

and when the sorrows of age afflict you!

تَموتُ كَما ماتَ الَّذينَ نَسيتَهُم

وَتُنسى وَتَهوى العِرسُ بَعدُ سِواكا

You will die as those before you died, and be forgotten,

while the bridal train will dance on, without you.

تَمَنَّيتَ حَتّى نِلتَ ثُمَّ تَرَكتَها

تَنَقَّلُ بَينَ الوارِثينَ مُناكا

You coveted till you got what you wanted, then left it behind,

to be inherited by others when you are gone.

إِذا لَم تَكُن في مَتجَرِ البِرِّ وَالتِقى

خَسِرتَ نَجاةً وَاكتَسَبتَ هَلاكا

If you are not trading in righteousness and piety,

you lose salvation, but earn perdition.

إِذا أَنتَ لَم تَعزِم عَلى الصَبرِ لِلأَذى

رَمَيتَ الَّذي مِنهُ الأَذى وَرَماكا

If you do not resolve to endure harm patiently,

you launch against the source of harm missiles that hit you back.

إِذا كُنتَ تَبغي البِرَّ فَاكفُف عَنِ الأَذى

وَما البِرُّ إِلّا أَن تَكُفَّ أَذاكا

If you seek righteousness, refrain from causing harm,

for righteousness lies only in holding back harm.

أَخوكَ الَّذي مِن نَفسِهِ لَكَ مُنصِفٌ

إِذا المَرءُ لَم يُنصِفكَ لَيسَ أَخاكا

The brother who does not treat you justly is still your brother.

When a man does not treat you justly, he is not your brother.