صبرتُ على غدرِ الزمانِ وحقدهِ

وشابَ لي السُّمَ الزعافَ بشهده

I have been patient with the betrayals and malice of fate,

And the poison of disappointment has turned sweet in my mouth.

وجربتُ إخوان الزمان فلم أَجد

صَديقاً جميلَ الغيب في حال بعده

I have known the friends of time, but found not one

To be a loyal comrade when absent.

وكم صَاحِبٍ عَاشَرتُه وألفتُه

فما دَام لي يوماً على حُسنِ عهده

How many a friend I associated with and befriended,

Yet he did not stand by me a single day, breaking his vows.

وأغربُ من عنقاءَ في الدّهر مغرب

أَخو ثقة يسقيك صافي ودِّه

More estranged than a wild ostrich am I in this world,

Is the brother of trust who gives you the clear wine of his affection.

بنفسك صادِم كل امرٍ تُريده

فليسَ مضاءُ السّيف الا بحده

Throw yourself against every matter you wish to accomplish,

For the sword does not shine save by its edge.

وعَزمك جرِّد عِند كلِّ مهمةٍ

فما نافعٌ مكثُ الحسامِ بغمدهِ

And let your resolve be stripped for every important task,

Useless is the lingering of swords in their sheaths.

وشَاهدتُ في الأسفار كلَّ عجيبةٍ

فلم أَرَ من نالَ جِدا بجدِّه

I have witnessed every wonder in my travels,

But saw none who succeeded by his effort alone.

فكُن ذا اقتصادٍ في امورك كلها

فأحسنُ أحوال الفتَى حسن قصده

So be moderate in all your affairs,

For the best of conditions is the youth’s moderation.

وما يُحرمُ الانسانُ رزقاً لعجزه

كما لا ينال الرِّزقَ يوماً بكَدِّه

Man cannot be deprived of rizq due to inability,

Just as he cannot attain provision by toil alone.

حُظوظُ الفَتَى من شقوةٍ وسعادة

جَرَت بقضاءٍ لا سبيلَ لردِّه

The fortunes of youth, be they hardship or joy,

Are by a decree that cannot be repelled.