سلني عن الدهر وأخباره

وما طواه الدهر من مكره

Ask me of fate and its ways,

And what fate has veiled of its schemes,

صاحبته ستين عاما على

شتى من الأحوال في عصره

I accompanied it sixty years,

In various states throughout its era,

عشرون منها ساهيا لاهيا

غرّا بما يخفيه من ختره

Twenty of which I wasted heedlessly,

Deceived by what it hid of its tricks,

ثم تيقظت له يقظة

لم أنج منها من شبا غدره

Then I awoke to it an awakening,

From which I did not escape its sudden betrayal,

حتى إذا استكملت عذرا وقد

راضني الدهر على قهره

Until when I was fully excused, and fate

Had made me submit to its coercion,

بصّرني الحزن تصاريفه

فصرت بالفطنة في حجره

Sorrow made me learn its ways,

So I became wise in its lap,

لا أشتكي الدهر لعلمي بما

يخفى على الجاهل من قدره

I do not complain of fate, knowing what

Is hidden from the ignorant of its ordainment,

وقد مضى في مثل قد جرى

لحازم لم يخط في دهره

And it has passed in the like of what has passed

For the resolute who did not err in his era,

الدهر مأمور له آمر

سينتهي الدهر إلى أمره

Fate is commanded, it has a commander,

Fate will end up to His command,

كم قد رأينا من فتى حازم

يمشي برجليه إلى قبره

How much have we seen of a resolute youth

Who walks with his feet toward his grave,

وغافل مستيقظ فاضل

يختار ما يدعو إلى ضرّه

And an unaware wise man of merit,

Chooses what calls for his harm,

وكم ضعيف جاهل عاجز

أديل باليسر على فقره

And how many a weak ignorant incapable man

Is eased into his poverty,

والصبر صبران فصبر على

كره يطيح العز في عزه

And patience is of two kinds: patience for

Hated adversity that deposes might in its might,

وصبر تسليم امرئ حازم

يستوجب السلوة في صبره

And the patience of surrender of a resolute man

Who earns tranquility through his patience.