أَلا إِنَّما الدُنيا عَروسٌ وَأَهلُها

أَخو دَعَةٍ فيها وَآخَرُ لاعِبُ

Behold, the world is but a bride, and her people are these:

One living in leisure within her, and another at play;

وَذو ذِلَّةٍ فَقراً وَآخَرُ بِالغِنى

عَزيزٌ وَمَكظوظُ الفُؤادِ وَساغِبُ

One brought low by poverty, while another, through wealth,

Is held mighty; and one is heavy-hearted, and another famished.

وَبِالناسِ كانَ الناسُ قِدماً وَلَم يَزَل

مِنَ الناسِ مَرغوبٌ إِلَيهِ وَراغِبُ

Through people do people exist, as of old, and there remains

Among men the one sought after, and the one who seeks.