النّاسُ كالطّيرِ والدّنيا شِباكُهُمُ

وهُمْ بها بَيْنَ ركَّاضٍ ومُخْتَبِطِ

People are like birds, and this world is their net,

Among them are those trained and those untamed.

والموتُ قَنّاصُهُم يأتي على مَهَلٍ

لِهُلْكِهِم بَيْنَ مَذْبوحٍ ومُعْتَبِطِ

And death is their hunter, coming unhurried,

To take them while distracted or unprepared.

وقد شُغِلْنا بدُنيانا وزُخْرِفها

فالخلقُ ما بين مَحزونٍ ومُغتبِطِ

We have busied ourselves with this world and its vanities,

Among people are those who rejoice and those who grieve.

هذا يُسرُّ بحالٍ لا تَدومُ وذا

يبكي على الفَوتِ من دنياهُ والفَرَطِ

One is overjoyed at a state that will not last,

While another cries over what he missed and neglected.

ولَيس يَسوى الذي نالَ الملوكُ من الدْ

دُنيا فدَعْ غيرَهُم كفّاً من العَبَطِ

What kings attain of this lowly life is not equal,

So leave off the rest, for they are foolish and confused.