لقد كذبَ الآمالَ من كان كسلانا

وأجدرُ بالأحلامِ من باتَ وسنانا

The lazy were deceived by their hopes,

And dreams suit most he who slept well,

ومن لم يعانِ الجدَّ في كل أمرهِ

رأى كل أمرٍ في العواقبِ خذلانا

And he who did not suffer hardship in his every affair,

Saw every affair end with abandonment,

وما المرءُ إلا جدهُ واجتهادُهُ

وليس سوى هذينِ للمرءِ أعوانا

And a man is nothing but his effort and diligence,

And nothing but these two are a man's helpers,

كأن الورى يجرونَ طراً لغايةٍ

وقدْ دُحيتْ هذي البسيطة ميدانا

As if people race towards a goal,

And this arena has been cleared for that,

فمن كانَ مقداماً فَقَد فاز جَدُهُ

وباءَ بكلِّ الويلِ من ظلَ حيرانا

So he who was bold succeeded through his effort,

And he who remained confused was afflicted with misery,

فلا تتقاعدْ إن تلحْ لك فرصةٌ

ولا تزدرِ الشيءَ الحقيرَ وإن هانا

So do not retire if an opportunity urges you,

Nor disdain something small even if it is disgraced,

ولا تعدُ أخلاق الكرام فإنما

بأخلاقه الإنسانُ قد صار إنسانا

Nor blame the ethics of the generous for the human

Has become human through his ethics.