ضع الأمر في موضع الأعتبار

فإن الزمان زمان العبر

Give the matter due consideration,

For this age is an age of lessons.

ولا يفرحنك زوال الخطوب

فكم أثرها من خطوب أخر

And do not let the passing of calamities gladden you,

For how many other calamities follow in their wake!

مصاب مرير إذا ما انقضى

تلاه مصاب عليك أمر

When a bitter affliction comes to an end,

Another, more bitter for you, follows it.

سهرت لياليك في بغية

مضت ونبا بك عنها السهر

You spent your nights awake in pursuit of a wish;

It slipped away, and wakefulness left you far from it.

حياتك أمست حياة التساوي

فلست تساء ولست تسر

Your life has become a life of sameness:

You are neither saddened nor gladdened.

قدرت فقلت فلما عجزت

سكت فغشى البيان الحصر

You were able and spoke; then, when you became powerless,

You fell silent, and speechlessness shrouded eloquence.

إذا ما أماني الهوى برزت

وكل خفي بها قد ظهر

When the hopes of passion emerge,

And everything hidden within them is revealed,

وشام بصير وأصغى سميع

وراحت ترود المعاني الفكر

And the clear-sighted observe, and the keen-eared listen,

And thoughts set out to explore meanings,

وقال زمانك كيف التحامي

وناداك دهرك أين المفر

And your time says, “How can you protect yourself?”

And your age calls to you, “Where is escape?”

هالك تشكو كما كنت تشكي

ويجري بما لا تشاء القدر

It appalls you; you complain as you once made others complain,

And fate runs its course against your will.