حظّ الفتى ممّا أتا

هُ الله في الدنيا معاده

The youth's fortune is from what has come to him

God has ordained it for him in this world

وعمادهُ في دينه الت

تقوى وجُنّتُه سداده

And his pillar in his religion is

Piety, and his paradise is his righteousness

ومهاده فيما إلي

ه يعود بعد الموت زاده

And his rest is in what he will return to after death as his provision

And his joy is in his intention

وغناؤه في قصده

فالمرء يستره اقتصاده

For man covers himself with moderation

And the free man is easy in nature

والحرّ سهلٌ طبعه

مستسلم سلس قياده

Yielding, smooth in leadership

And you see the wicked complicated

وترى اللئيم معقدا

نكدا يعاقُبه كياده

Gloomy, punished by his scheming

And the sign of the noble man is

وعلامة الحر الكري

م إذا فطنت له اعتقاده

When you understand his belief

And so too the ignoble man is shown

وكذا يدُلّ على الضرا

م إذا خبا يوما رماده

When his day has turned to ash

And man pursues sins

والمرء يرتاد الذنو

ب وإن أضرّ به ارتياده

Even if his pursuit harms him

Desire leads him to obedience

يقتاد طاعته الهوى

فيعود بالندم اعتياده

Then he returns with regret for his habit

How many a guide has ordered with effort

كم رائد أمرا بمج

تهد ويرديه اجتهاده

And his striving has destroyed him

And a thinker of death

ومفكر في الموت ما

هو قد جفاه له وساده

It has not forsaken him, his pillow

He spent his life worrying

أفنيته في همّه

زرعٌ نشا ودنا حصاده

A crop grew and gave little harvest

No speaker but tomorrow

ما محدّث إلا غدا

في وقت محدثه فساده

Corruption will be in the time of his speaking

Do not let the loss of one

لا يزعجنّك فقد من

أمسيت يزعجك افتقاده

Who troubled you yesterday trouble you today

As long as your person is well

ما دام شخصُك سالما

يكفيك من عطش ثماده

His thirst's healing is enough for you

The sword cuts what remains

فالسيف يقطع ما بقى

حدّاهُ إن أودى نجاده

If its sharpness destroys its sheath