لِفَعالِكَ المَذمومُ ريحُ حَوابِسٍ

وَلِفِعلِكَ المَحمودِ رَيّا تَفَغَمُ

The stench of your wrongdoing is a harsh wind,

While the fragrance of your good deed is a gentle breeze.

وَالطَبعُ أَحكَمَهُ المَليكُ فَلَن تَرى

حَجَراً يَقولُ وَلا هِزبَراً يَبغُمُ

Nature has set this as the rule, so you'll never see

A rock speak out, nor a lizard grumble.

وَإِذا غَدَوتَ عَلى القَضاءِ مُغالِباً

فَأَذاكَ تَستَمري وَأَنفُكَ تَرغَمُ

And if you rise up against fate as a rebel,

You may persist, but you will only choke.

أَيَكونُ رَفعٌ لِلشُرورِ فَيَنتَهي

غاوٍ وَيَقنَعُ بِالنَباتِ الضَيغَمِ

Can lifting up evil bring about its end?

A straying one might be content with a meagertuft.

وَالمَوتُ أَصدَقُ حادِثٍ وَأَصَحُّهُ

وَكَأَنَّهُ كَذِبٌ يُسَرُّ فَيَنغُمُ

Death is the truest and most certain event,

Yet it seems a sweet lie that brings joy.