إِنَّ أَمامي خَيرَ مَن وَطِئَ الحَصى

لِذي هِمَّةٍ يَرجو الغِنى أَو لِغارِمِ

Before me lies the best of those who trod the pebbles

For one with ambition who hopes for wealth or a debtor

فَقالوا فَعَلنا حَسبُنا اللَهُ وَاِنتَهَوا

جَديلَةَ أَمرٍ يَقطَعُ الشَكَّ عازِمِ

So they said, "God sufficed us," and they desisted

From a grave matter that severs doubt with determination

إِذا لَم يَكُن حِصنٌ سِوى الخَيلِ وَالقَنا

يُلاذُ بِهِ وَالمُرهَفاتِ الصَوارِمِ

If there is no fortress but horses and sharp swords

To resort to, and fierce piercing blades

وَلَمّا مَضَوا عَن خَيرِ سُنَّةِ مَعشَرٍ

وَقامَ سُلَيمانٌ أَتَت خَيرَ قائِمِ

And after they passed the best tradition of a group

And Solomon stood up, the best successor came

فَأَلقَت لَهُ الأَيّامُ كُلَّ خَبيأَةٍ

عَلى ذِروَةٍ لا تُرتَقى بِالسَلالِمِ

So the days conferred upon him every treasure

Upon a summit that cannot be climbed with ladders