إذا نكبات الدهرِ لم تعظِ الفتى

وتقرع منه لم تعظّه عواذلُهْ

If the turns of fate do not make a youth wise,

And its blows do not make him take heed,

ومن لم يؤدبه أبوه وأمه

تؤدَبهَ روعاتَ الردى وزلازلُهْ

And if he was not taught by his father and mother,

He will be taught by the terrors of misfortune and its tremors.

فدع عنك ما لا تستطيعُ ولا تطِعْ

هواك ولا يغلب بحقِّكَ باطِلُهْ

So abandon what you cannot attain, do not follow

Your desires, and do not let falsehood prevail over your right.