نَغَّصَ طيبَ العَيشِ تَنصيبُ

وَفي المُلِمّاتِ الأَعاجيبُ

The vicissitudes of fate embitter life's joy,

And strange events arise in adversities.

وَالدَهرُ طَلّاعٌ بِأَحكامِهِ

وَالمَرءُ مَخدوعٌ وَمَكذوبُ

Time with its rulings plays tricks,

And man is deceived and told lies.

وَالناسُ مِن غادٍ وَمِن رائِحٍ

يُحصى عَلَيهِ البِرُّ وَالحوبُ

People come and people go,

Good and evil are counted against them.

لا يَشتَهي المَوتَ وَيُمنى بِهِ

كَرهاً وَطيبُ العَيشِ تَعذيبُ

Death is not desired, yet wished for,

Hated, though life is torment.

قُل لِاِبنِ داوُدَ إِذا جِئتَهُ

سَيبُكَ مَوجودٌ وَمَطلوبُ

Say to the son of David when you meet him,

You will find one sought and seeking.

أَنجَزَ حُرٌّ وَأيَهُ طائِعاً

وَالعَبدُ مَكدودٌ وَمَضروبُ

A freeman made true his word willingly,

While the slave is beaten and cowed.

لِلمَرءِ مِن أَفعالِهِ مُشبِهٌ

فَاِفعَل شَبيهاً بِكَ يَعقوبُ

A person's actions show his likeness,

So act like your namesake, O Jacob!

حَلَبتَ لِلقَومِ فَلا تَنسَني

وَأَنتَ عَرفُ الجودِ مَحلوبُ

You have milked for the people, do not forget me,

You are the spring of generosity, freshly drawn.

يُبقي لِذي المَعروفِ مَعروفُهُ

حَمداً وَتَنزاحُ الأَكاذيبُ

He who has done good, his good remains

As praise, and falsehoods pass away.