المرء ما المرء سليل الثرى

لا غرو أن يشبه جلموده

Man—what is man? A scion of the dust,

It is no wonder he resembles its solid rock.

عالجه الرسل بتأديبهم

فلم يلن تأديبهم عوده

The Messengers sought to cure him with their discipline,

Yet their discipline did not soften his stubborn timber.

لا يخدم المرء سوى نفسه

ولو حوى في الخلق محوده

Man serves none other than himself,

Even if he garners praise among all creation.

قد يفعل الخيرله معلنا

وليس فعل الخير مقصوده

He may perform good deeds for all to see,

Yet the act of good is not his true intent.

ويوسع الكل بإحسانه

رفدا ليستعبد مرفوده

He overwhelms everyone with his benevolence,

A support meant only to enslave the supported.

من أثرة النفس ومن حبها

محبة الوالد مولوده

It is from the self's egoism and its self-love

That the parent's love for the child is born.

لا تحمد المرء لمشهوده

فغيبه ينكرمشهوده

Do not praise a man for what is witnessed,

For his unseen nature contradicts what is seen.

إذا أطاع المرء ذا دعوة

فبأسه يلحظ أو جوده

If a man obeys one who calls to faith,

It is his might or his bounty that he eyes.

لو لم تكن نار ولا جنة

لما أطاع المرء معبوده

Were there no Hellfire and no Paradise,

Man would never have obeyed his God.