للأديب اللبيب همّ بشانه

للأديب اللبيب همّ بشانه

وانشغال بحاله في مكانه

وانشغال بحاله في مكانه

The discerning man of letters is concerned about his affairs,

The wise author has a care for his affairs

and preoccupied with his condition where he is.

And is occupied with his state in his place

من علت نفسه وساخ به

من علت نفسه وساخ به

الحظّ شحا في زمانه بزمانه

الحظّ شحا في زمانه بزمانه

He whose soul is lofty, yet who is brought low

He who exalts himself and becomes arrogant with it

by fortune, rails in his own time against his time.

Fortune becomes stingy with him in his time after time

وحرِيّ بالذلّ من طلب العزّ

وحرِيّ بالذلّ من طلب العزّ

ليقوى به على عصيانه

ليقوى به على عصيانه

And deserving of humiliation is he who seeks honor

And he who seeks might deserves humiliation

to gain strength through it for his disobedience.

So he may be strengthened by it for his disobedience