يا واعِظَ الناسِ عَمّا أَنتَ فاعِلُهُ

يا مَن يُعَدُّ عَلَيهِ العُمرُ بِالنَفَسِ

O preacher of men for what you yourself do

O you upon whom life is counted by breaths

اِحفَظ لِشَيبِكَ مِن عَيبٍ يُدَنِّسُهُ

إِنَّ البَياضَ قَليلُ الحَملِ لِلدَنَسِ

Protect your old age from disgrace that soils it

Whiteness bears little dirt and filth

كَحامِلٍ لِثِيابِ الناسِ يَغسِلُها

وَثَوبُهُ غارِقٌ في الرِجسِ وَالنَجَسِ

Like one who washes people's clothes

While his own clothes are sunk in filth and impurity

تَبغي النَجاةَ وَلَم تَسلُك طَريقَتَها

إِنَّ السَفينَةَ لا تَجري عَلى اليَبَسِ

You seek salvation but do not walk its path

A ship does not sail on dry land

رُكوبُكَ النَعشَ يُنسيكَ الرُكوبَ عَلى

ما كُنتَ تَركَبُ مِن بَغلٍ وَمِن فَرَسِ

Riding the bier makes you forget riding

What you used to ride of mule and horse

يَومَ القِيامَةِ لا مالٌ وَلا وَلَدٌ

وَضَمَّةُ القَبرِ تُنسي لَيلَةَ العُرسِ

On the Day of Resurrection there is no money or child

And the narrowness of the grave makes you forget the wedding night