مَن جَعَلَ الدَهرَ عَلى بالِهِ

أَمَّ بِهِ أَفظَعَ أَهوالِهِ

Who made time the concern of his mind

Or terrified him with its most gruesome horrors

وَحَطَّهُ بَعدَ سُمُوٍّ بِهِ

قَسراً إِلى أَخبَثِ أَحوالِهِ

And debased him, after he had risen high

Forcibly to the meanest of conditions?

قَد يُغبَنُ الإِنسانُ في دينِهِ

جَهلاً وَلا يُغبَنُ في مالِهِ

Man may err ignorantly in his religion

But does not err in regard to his money

يَتَّعِظُ العاقِلُ مِن مِثلِهِ

وَيَحتَذي مِنهُ بِأَفعالِهِ

The wise man derives a lesson from the like of him

And takes warning by his deeds

وَصاحِبُ المَرءِ شَبيهٌ بِهِ

فَسَل عَنِ المَرءِ بِأَمثالِهِ

A man's companion is like him

So ask about a man by his likes

وَسَل عَنِ الضَيفِ بِمَن أَمَّهُ

فَإِنَّهُ شِبهٌ بِنُزّالِهِ

And ask about a guest by who hosted him

For he resembles his hosts

لاتَغبِطَنَّ الدَهرَ ذا ثَروَةٍ

قَد جَعَلَ اللَذاتِ مِن بالِهِ

Do not envy time its wealth

When it has made pleasures its concern

صاحِب إِذا صاحَبتَ ذا عُقدَةٍ

مُحتَمِلاً أَعباءَ أَثقالِهِ

When you befriend one of sullen mood

Bearing the burden of his troubles

لَهُ وَفاءٌ وَلَهُ عَزمَةٌ

تَأوي إِلى أَكنافِ أَظلالِهِ

He has loyalty and determination

That find refuge in the shade of his burdens