أَخبَرتَ عَن كُتبِكَ أُعجوبَةً

وَرُبَّ مَينٍ ضُمِّنَتهُ الكُتُب

You told of the wonders contained in your books,

Yet many a hypocrite's soul conceals misdeeds.

تُواصِلُ الغَيَّ وَلَو لَم يَكُن

فيكَ حِجىً ما عَتَبَتكَ العُتُب

You persist in wrongdoing, even lacking

Excuse—no reproach makes you repent.

وَطَبعُكَ الشَرُّ فَإِن أَمكَنَت

تَوبَةُ لَيلٍ مِن سَوادٍ فَتُب

Your nature is for evil, so if you can

Repent a night's wrongs, then turn from sin.

وَيَطلُبُ النِقلَةَ عَن خيمِهِم

ناسٌ عَلى كُلِّ قَبيحٍ رُتُب

Some men seeking to move camp and tribe

Have grown used to all manner of ugly deeds.