مَا الدَّهْرُ إِلَّا ضَوْءُ شَمْسٍ عَلا

وَكَوْكَبٌ غَامَ وَنَبْتٌ بَقَلْ

Time is but the light of a sun risen high,

A star that has set, some herbs that are dry,

وَرَاحِلٌ أَعْقَبَهُ نَازِلٌ

مَا قِيلَ قَدْ خَيمَ حَتَّى اسْتَقَلْ

A steed, and a rider who passes one by,

Things said and heard - as quick as a sigh.

عَمَايَةٌ يَخْبِطُ فِيهَا النُّهَى

عَجْزاً وَلا تُبْصِرُ فِيهَا الْمُقَلْ

A blindness wherein the laggards collide

Too weak to see what the prudent decides.

فَبَادِرِ النّقْلَةَ وَاعْمَلْ لَهَا

مَا شِئْتَ فَالدَّهْرُ سَريعُ النُّقَلْ

Seize now the chance ere its promise betides;

Time's nature is ever to shift and to glide.

وَاصْمُتْ عَنِ الشَّرِّ إِذَا لَمْ تُطِقْ

دَفْعاً وَإِنْ صَادَفْتَ خَيْراً فَقُلْ

Keep still if unable good counsel to give,

But speak to advise if you've virtue to live.

وَسِرْ إِذَا مَا عَرَضَتْ فُرْصَةٌ

فَالْبَدْرُ قَدْ يَنْمُو إِذَا مَا انْتَقَلْ

Press on if you find that occasion may thrive,

The moon's self may wax though diminish it strive.

مَنْ طَلَبَ الأَمْرَ بِأَسْبَابِهِ

سَاعَدَهُ الْمَقْدُورُ إِمَّا عَقَلْ

Who seeks high position with diligent care

Will find that high providence helps him to dare.

قَدْ يَجْبُنُ الأَعْزَلُ وَهوَ الْفَتَى

وَيَشْجُعُ النِّكْسُ إِذَا مَا اعْتَقَلْ

Though craven be honored, and brave be most rare,

True courage grows firmer when dangers impair.