1. يا أيها المَوْعُوظُ فيَّ لِشَكْوه

    أبصرْ هُداكَ ففي العِظاتِ بصائرُ

    O you, admonished through me on account of his complaint,

    See your path aright, for in admonitions lie insights.

  2. وإذا قَدَرْتَ على المظالم فانزجِرْ

    أوْ لا ففي الغِيرِ الحوادث زاجر

    And when you have the power to oppress, restrain yourself;

    Otherwise, in unfolding reversals of fortune lies a deterrent.

  3. ومتى وُعِظت بعلّةٍ فنضَوْتها

    فاحذر فقد يُوفى البلاءَ الحاذر

    And whenever illness admonishes you and you cast it off,

    then beware, for even the wary may receive affliction in full.

  4. لا تُحْدِثنَّ لك الإقالة جُرأةً

    فاللَّه من بعد الإقالة قادر

    Let no reprieve breed boldness in you;

    for God remains powerful after a reprieve.

  5. وارهبْ من الأقران قِرْناً مالَهُ

    إلا العواقِبَ والعقوبة ناصر

    And among your peers, fear a rival who has

    no champion but consequences and punishment.