تيقظ لهذا العيش يقظة حازم

تيقظ لهذا العيش يقظة حازم

لبيب أرتهُ الحزم فيه التجارب

لبيب أرتهُ الحزم فيه التجارب

Be alert to this life with the vigilance of a prudent man,

Awaken to this life with determined vigilance,

A discerning man whom experience has taught prudence in it.

A sensible one whom experience has granted wisdom.

فغائبه للمستشف ميسّر

فغائبه للمستشف ميسّر

وحاضرهُ للأبله الغفل غائب

وحاضرهُ للأبله الغفل غائب

For what is hidden in it is accessible to the perceptive,

What is absent to the heedless is present for the fool,

While what is manifest in it is hidden from the heedless fool.

While what is present for the wise is absent for the ignorant.

يسرّك أحيانا وما سرّ ضائرٌ

يسرّك أحيانا وما سرّ ضائرٌ

فكم فرحة حلت عراها المصائب

فكم فرحة حلت عراها المصائب

It pleases you at times, yet what pleases is harmful;

At times it gives you joy, yet no joy lasts forever,

For many a joy has had its bonds undone by calamities.

For how often does happiness arrive cloaked in misfortune.