يا فاضلا حاز فخر الفضل عن أدبه

وازداد فخرا يفوق الفخر عن حسبه

O virtuous one who has attained the pride of virtue through his manners

And has gained more pride that surpasses pride through his lineage

أما الزمان فمذموم على نوبه

والصبر أولى بحرّ زيد في كربه

As for time, it is blameworthy in its turns

And patience is more fitting for the perplexed in their affliction

ومن تعجّب من أحداثه عجبي

عن قوله وهو ذو علم بمنقلبه

And whoever is astonished by its events, I am astonished

By his words, and he is knowledgeable of its reversals

والحظ في قسمة الأرزاق عند فنى

سرّ يدِقّ على ذي اللب في عجبه

And fate in the distribution of sustenance according to the artist

Is a secret that squeezes the heart of the perceptive one in its perplexity

خذ كل يوم بما فيه وإن فدحت

نوائبُ الدهر فاقبلها على عقبه

Take each day as it comes, and if the calamities of fate gush forth

Receive them on their heels willingly, or else you will receive them unwillingly

طوعا وإلا فكرها سوف تقبلها

والشكر للمرء طوعا خير مكتسبه

And gratitude is better earned by one who accepts willingly

If you contemplate the blame of fate, you will not see it

إذا تأمّلت ذم الحظ لم تره

حظا لتعديل مولى القسم في سببه

As a fate, in order to justify the Ordainer in its reason

But it is the self that complains of its worries in disgruntlement

لكنّها النفس تشكو شجوها ضجرا

نقص اليقين بنور الهم عنه وبه

The lack of certainty by the light of anxiety within it and through it

And sometimes one chooses a matter that tires them

وربما اخترت أمرا فيه متعبةٌ

ولست تدري بصدق المرء من كذبه

And they do not know the sincerity of a person from their lies

It is for that reason that what has been said in the proverb is so well put

من أجل ذلك ما قد قيل في مثل

أجاد شاعره الإيضاح عن أربه

Its poet has excellently elucidated its meaning

How many are eager for something to attain it

كم من حريص على شيء ليدركه

لعلّ إدراكه يدنيه من عطبه

Perhaps its attainment will bring them closer to their mending