نقطعُ الأوقاتَ بالكُلَفِ

وقُصارانا إلى التَّلَفِ

We while away time with burdens,

Our lives hastening to ruin.

أملٌ تَرْقَي مطامعُه

لا إلى حَدٍّ ولا طَرَفِ

Hope's ambitions ascend,

Neither limited nor finite.

يُعْجِب الإنسانَ مَكْسبُه

وهْو بابُ الهمِّ والأَسف

Man is pleased with his earnings,

Though they be the door to grief and sorrow.

فهْو دَينٌ للزمان فلا

يفرح المغرورُ بالسَّلَف

Thus they are a debt to time, so

The arrogant rejoice not in provisions.

أَتُرَى الجَزّارَ عن كرمٍ

جُودُه للشاةِ بالعَلَف

Does the butcher in his generosity

Feed the sheep with fodder out of kindness?

سِمَنُ المهزولِ مَهْلَكةٌ

يُقْنِع المعجوفَ بالعَجَف

The fat of the emaciated is destruction,

The dough is satisfied with bran.