أَمّا المَكانُ فَثابِتٌ لا يَنطَوي

لَكِن زَمانُكَ ذاهِبٌ لا يَثبُتُ

As for the place, it is fixed and does not fold,

But your time is fleeting, it does not stay.

قالَ الغَوِيُّ لَقَد كَبَتُّ مُعانِدي

خَسِرَت يَداهُ بِأَيِّ أَمرٍ يَكبِتُ

The misguided said, "I have subdued my opponents!"

With what command did he lose his hands as he subdues?

وَالمَرءُ مِثلُ النارِ شَبَّت وَاِنتَهَت

فَخَبَت وَأَفلَحَ في الحَياةِ المُخبِتُ

A man is like fire - it flared up and died down,

It faded, and the one who humbles in life succeeds.

وَحَوادِثُ الأَيّامِ مِثلُ نَباتِها

تُرعى وَيَأمُرُها المَليكُ فَتَنبُتُ

The events of days are like their plants -

They are fed, and the King commands them to grow.

وَإِذا الفَتى كانَ التُرابُ مَآلَهُ

فَعَلامَ تَسهَرُ أُمُّهُ وَتُرَبِّتُ

When the youth's destination is the dust,

Why does his mother stay up night and raise him?

إِن كانَت الأَحبارُ تُعَظِّمُ سَبتَها

فَأَخو البَصيرَةِ كُلَّ يَومٍ مُسبِتُ

If the rabbis esteem their Sabbath,

The brother of insight every day has a Sabbath.