تَفَكَّر قَبلَ أَن تَندَم

فَإِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ فَاعلَم

Think before you regret,

For you are mortal, know this.

وَلا تَغتَرَّ بِالدُنيا

فَإِنَّ صَحيحَها يَسقَم

Do not be deceived by this world,

For even its health becomes ill.

وَإِنَّ جَديدَها يَبلى

وَإِنَّ شَبابَها يَهرَم

Its newness becomes worn,

Its youth becomes old.

وَإِنَّ نَعيمَها يَفنى

فَتَركُ نَعيمِها أَحزَم

Its bliss fades away,

So leaving its bliss is wisest.

وَمَن هَذا الَّذي يَبقى

عَلى الحَدَثانِ أَو يَسلَم

And who is it that remains

Safe from disasters or secure?

رَأَيتُ الناسَ أَتباعاً

لِذي الدينارِ وَالدِرهَم

I have seen people become followers

Of those with money and coins.

وَما لِلمَرءِ إِلّا ما

نَوى في الخَيرِ أَو قَدَّم

And a person has only what

He intended in good, or put forth.