وَما طَلَبُ المَعيشَةِ بِالتَمَنّي

وَلَكِن أَلقِ دَلوَكَ في الدَلاءِ

The pursuit of livelihood is not achieved by mere wishing,

But rather, cast your bucket in among the other buckets;

تَجِئكَ بِمِلئِها يَوماً وَيَوماً

تَجِئكَ بِحَمأَةٍ وَقَليلِ ماءِ

One day it will come to you brimming full,

And another day it will bring you sludge and meager water.

وَلا تَقعُد عَلى كُلِّ التَمَنّي

تَحيلُ عَلى المَقدَّرِ وَالقَضاءِ

Do not sit idle, relying entirely on wishes,

While deferring everything to destiny and divine decree.

فَإِنَّ مَقادِرَ الرَحمَنِ تَجري

بَأَرزاقِ الرِجالِ مِنَ السَماءِ

For truly, the decrees of the Most Merciful flow forth,

Delivering the sustenance of men down from the heavens,

مَقدَّرَةً بِقَبضٍ أَو بِبَسطٍ

وَعَجزُ المَرءِ أَسبابُ البَلاءِ

Apportioned by scarcity or abundance,

Yet a man's own incapacity is the cause of his tribulation.

لَنِعمَ اليَومُ يَومُ السَبتِ حَقّاً

لِصَيدٍ إِن أَرَدتَ بَلا اِمتِراءِ

Truly, what an excellent day is Saturday,

For hunting, if that is your desire, without a doubt.

وَفي الأَحَدِ البِناءِ لِأَنَّ فيهِ

تَبَدّى اللَهُ في خَلقِ السَماءِ

And Sunday is the day for building, for within it

God began the creation of the heavens.

وَفي الإِثنَينِ إِن سافَرتَ فيهِ

سَتَظفَرُ بِالنَجاحِ وَِبالثَراءِ

And regarding Monday, should you travel upon it,

You will attain success and abundant wealth.

وَمِن يُردِ الحِجامَةَ فَالثُلاثا

فَفي ساعَتِهِ سَفكُ الدِماءِ

And whoever seeks cupping, let him choose Tuesday,

For in its hours, the blood flows freely.

وَإِن شَرِبَ اِمرِؤٌ يَوماً دَواءً

فَنِعمَ اليَومَ يَومَ الأَربِعاءِ

And should a man need to drink a potion of medicine,

Then the most excellent day is Wednesday.

وَفي يَومِ الخَميسِ قَضاءُ حاجٍ

فَفيهِ اللَهُ يَأذَنُ بِالدُعاءِ

And Thursday is for the fulfilling of needs,

For in it, God grants permission to prayers.

وَفي الجُمُعاتِ تَزويجٌ وَعُرسٌ

وَلذَّاتُ الرِجالِ مَعَ النِساءِ

And on Fridays, let there be marriage and weddings,

And the intimate pleasures of men with women.

وَهَذا العِلمُ لا يَعلَمهُ إِلّا

نَبِيٌّ أَو وَصِيُّ الأَنبِياءِ

And this is knowledge possessed by none save

A Prophet, or the Successor of Prophets.

فَكَيفَ بِهِ أَنّي أُداوي جِراحَهُ

فَيَدوى فَلا مُلَّ الدَواءُ

So how is it that I tend to his wounds,

Yet he remains afflicted, though the remedy is never wearisome?