عِلمي بِأَنّي جاهِلٌ مُتَمَكِّنٌ

عِندي وَإِن ضَيَّعتُ حَقَّ العالِمِ

Know that I am an ignorant man of conviction

Though I may have wasted the right of the scholar

وَالظُلمُ يُمهِلُ بَعضَ مَن يَسعى لَهُ

وَمَحَلُّ نَقمَتِهِ بِنَفسِ الظالِمِ

Oppression may delay some who strive for it

Yet its vengeance lies with the oppressor himself

ما بالُ مَن طَلَبَ الهُدى بِمُفاوِزٍ

قَفرٍ وَطالِبُ غَيرِهِ بِمَعالِمِ

Why does the seeker of guidance roam the barren wilds

While another's pursuer has landmarks to guide him

وَالمَرءُ في حالِ التَيَقُّظِ هاجِعٌ

يَرنو إِلى الدُنيا بِمُقلَةِ حالِمِ

And a man in his waking state lies vanquished

Yearning for worldly things with a dreamer's eye

وَأَخو الحِجى أَبَداً يُجاهِدُ طَبعَهُ

فَتَراهُ وَهوَ مُحارِبٌ كَمُسالِمِ

The brother of resolve forever struggles with his nature

You see him warring though he seems at peace

سَأَلَ الطَبيبَ عَنِ الشِكايَةِ مُدنَفٌ

يَرجو سَلامَتَهُ وَلَيسَ بِسالِمِ

A sick man asks the doctor about his complaint

Hoping to be cured though he is not healed