خابَ الَّذي سارَ عَن دُنياهُ مُرتَحِلاً

وَلَيسَ في كَفِّهِ مِن دينِهِ طَرَفُ

He has missed the mark who wandered from his homeland journeying,

With not a mite in hand from all his creed and faith.

لا خَيرَ لِلمَرءِ إِلّا خَيرُ آخِرَةٍ

يُبقي عَلَيهِ فَذاكَ العِزُّ وَالشَرَفُ

Naught profits man save blessing in the world to come

That clings to him - true honour and renown that is.

نَرجو السَلامَةَ في العُقبى وَما حَسُنَت

أَعمالُنا فَيُرَجّى الفَوزُ وَالغُرَفُ

We hope for safety at the last, for nothing good

Deeds have we done, so victory and bliss may come.

ما بانَ قَومٌ عَنِ الأَولى بِما جَمَعوا

مِنَ الحُطامِ وَلَكِن بِالَّذي اِقتَرَفوا

No nation e'er betrayed its void and emptiness

Through riches hoarded up or gotten by its acts.

سَأَلتُ عَقلي فَلَم يُخبِر وَقُلتُ لَهُ

سَلِ الرِجالَ فَما أَفتَوا وَلا عَرَفوا

I asked my reason but no news it could impart;

I said "Ask men!" - they knew not nor instruction had.

قالوا فَمالوا فَلَمّا أَن حَدَوتُهُمُ

إِلى القِياسِ أَبانوا العَجزَ وَاِعتَرَفوا

Aimless they wandered; but when I had hemmed them in

To analogies, confessed they were and made default.

جارانِ مَلِكٌ وَمُحتاجٌ أَتى زَمَنٌ

عَلَيهِما فَتَساوى البُؤسُ وَالتَرَفُ

Once neighbours, now - a king; a beggar come on days

Wherein their fortunes and their ways of life were one.

إِن تَركَبِ الخَيلَ أَو تَضرُب مَراكِبَها

مِن عَسجَدٍ فَإِلى الغَبراءِ تَنصَرِفُ

If you would ride a steed, or ships for sailing buy,

Dust in the end your journey's goal and harbour is.

وَالفَقرُ أَحمَدُ مِن مالٍ تُبَذِّرُهُ

إِنَّ اِفتِقارَكَ مَأمونٌ بِهِ السَرَفُ

Better than squandered wealth is poverty demure;

Thy lack gives surety against excess for thee.

يَعرى الفَقيرُ وَبِالدينارِ كَسوَتُهُ

وَفي صِوانِكَ ما إِعدادُهُ خَرَفُ

Unclad the poor man goes, his coat a silver piece;

While in your pouches preparation's made for naught.