1. لَعَمرُكَ ما في الأَرضِ كَهلٌ مُجَرِّبٌ

    وَلا ناشِئٌ إِلّا لِإِثمٍ مُراهِقُ

    By your life, there is no seasoned, middle-aged man on earth,

    nor any youth, who is not drawing near to sin.

  2. إِذا بَضَّ بِالشَيءِ القَليلِ فَإِنَّهُ

    لِسوءِ السَجايا بِالتَبجُّحِ فاهِقُ

    If he gives a little something, he is,

    through his ill nature, loud-mouthed with boasting.

  3. وَلَو كانَ مِن هَذي الشَواهِقِ سَيِّدٌ

    ثَنَتهُ المَنايا وَهُوَ بِالنَفسِ شاهِقُ

    And even were a lord one of these towering peaks,

    death would bend him down as he gasped for breath.

  4. وَكَم مِن جَوادٍ فيهِمُ شَهِدَت لَهُ

    نَواهِقُهُ وَالشاحِجاتُ النَواهِقُ

    And many a 'generous man' among them has been vouched for

    by his braying asses and the harsh-voiced, braying mules.