مَثَلُ الفَتى عِندَ التَغَرُّبِ وَالنَوى

مَثَلُ الشَرارَةِ إِن تُفارِق نارَها

The youth when abroad and his purpose does tend

Is like unto a spark when it leaves the fire's bend

إِن صادَفَت أَرضاً أَرَتكَ خُمودَها

أَو وافَقَت أُكُلاً أَرَتكَ مَنارَها

Should it land on barren earth, its light is penned

Should it land on tinder, its flame will ascend

وَلَبِئسَ نَفسُ المَرءِ نَفسٌ حَسَّنَت

فِعلَ القَبيحِ لَهُ فَنَصَّ شَنارَها

Ill is the soul that takes to vice with delight

And does wrong, then boasts of it with all his might

وَرهاءُ مُفسِدَةٌ أَهانَت عِرضَها

حَتّى أُصيبَ وَأَكرَمَت دينارَها

Ostentation corrupts, though it seem upright

Till for a coin, it forfeits honor bright

وَأَساءَ ناكِحُ زَوجَةٍ نَصرانَةٍ

قَطَعَت لِأَجلِ نِكاحِهِ زِنّارَها

He marries a Christian maid, but fails his duty

She for their union severs her cincture beauty