قَد شابَ رَأسي وَرَأسُ الحِرصِ لَم يَشِبِ

قَد شابَ رَأسي وَرَأسُ الحِرصِ لَم يَشِبِ

إِنَّ الحَريصَ عَلى الدُنيا لَفي تَعَبِ

إِنَّ الحَريصَ عَلى الدُنيا لَفي تَعَبِ

My head has grown gray, but the head of greed has not.

My hair has turned grey, yet greed's head shows no sign of grey

Indeed, whoever covets this world is surely in toil.

Surely the greedy for this world live wearied and dismayed

ما لي أَراني إِذا حاوَلتُ مَنزِلَةً

ما لي أَراني إِذا حاوَلتُ مَنزِلَةً

فَنِلتُها طَمَحَت نَفسي إِلى رُتَبِ

فَنِلتُها طَمَحَت نَفسي إِلى رُتَبِ

Why do I find that, whenever I strive for a rank,

Why is it I find when a station I strive to attain

And attain it, my soul aspires to higher ranks?

And I do attain it, my soul yearns for yet higher grade

لَو كانَ يَنفَعُني عِلمي وَتَجرِبَتي

لَو كانَ يَنفَعُني عِلمي وَتَجرِبَتي

لَم أَشفِ غَيظي مِنَ الدُنيا وَلا كَلَبي

لَم أَشفِ غَيظي مِنَ الدُنيا وَلا كَلَبي

If my knowledge and experience had been of use to me,

If my knowledge and experience could avail

I would not have assuaged my rage against this world, nor my ravenous greed.

I'd not soothe my rage at this world, or curb my hounds bayed