خَليلَيَّ لا وَاللَهِ ما مِن مُلِمَّةٍ

تَدومُ عَلى حَيٍّ وَإِن هِيَ جَلَّتِ

My two friends, no, by God, there is no affliction

That lasts forever on the living, however great it grows.

فَإِن نَزَلَت يَوماً فَلا تَخضَعَن لَها

وَلا تُكثِرِ الشَكوى إِذا النَعلُ زَلَّتِ

So if it descends one day, do not bow before it,

And do not complain excessively when the sandal slips.

فَكَم مِن كَريمٍ يُبتَلى بِنَوائِبٍ

فَصابَرَها حَتّى مَضَت وَاِضمَحَلَّتِ

For how many a noble soul is tested by calamities,

Yet endured them until they passed and faded away.

وَكانَت عَلى الأَيّامِ نَفسي عَزيزَةٌ

فَلما رَأَت صَبري عَلى الذُلِ ذَلَّتِ

My soul was once too proud to bear the turns of time,

But when it saw my patience with abasement, it humbled itself.