حَسبي مِنَ الجَهلِ عِلمي أَن آخِرَتي

هِيَ المَآلُ وَأَنّي لا أُراعيها

My knowledge of ignorance is enough for me

That my fate is my destination, though I do not heed it,

وَأَنَّ دُنيايَ دارٌ لا قَرارَ بِها

وَما أَزالُ مُعَنّاً في مَساعيها

And that my worldly life is an abode without stability,

Yet I continue to pursue its empty efforts.

كَذَلِكَ النَفسُ مازالَت مُعَلَّلَةً

بِباطِلِ العَيشِ حَتّى قامَ ناعيها

Thus is the soul always excusing itself

With the futility of life, until its end comes upon it.

يا أُمَّةً مِن سَفاهٍ لا حُلومَ لَها

ما أَنتِ إِلّا كَضَأنٍ غابَ راعيها

O nation steeped in foolishness without any wisdom,

You are but sheep gone astray without a shepherd.

تُدعى لِخَيرٍ فَلا تَصغى لَهُ أُذُناً

فَما يُنادي لِغَيرِ الشَرِّ داعيها

You are called to good, but you do not lend an ear,

So none call you except those who summon you to evil.