1. لا تَرقُدوا فَوقَ الرِحالِ فَإِنَّما

    تُرمى النُجومُ بِغَيرِ طَرَفِ الناعِسِ

    Do not sleep upon the saddles, for

    the stars are aimed at only with a wakeful eye.

  2. وَلِرُبَّ جَدٍّ مُكثِرٍ أَبناوُهُ

    يَبغَونَ عَيشَهُمُ بِجَدٍّ تاعِسِ

    And many a wealthy grandfather has sons

    who seek their livelihood with wretched luck.

  3. لَم يَدعُ حَظّي يا لَسَعدٍ في الوَغى

    بَل صاحَ في الأَيّامِ يا لَمُقاعِسِ

    My fortune did not cry, 'Help, Saʿd!' in battle;

    rather, through the days it cried, 'Help, Muqāʿis!'

  4. لِلمَوتِ حَدٌّ لا يُقَرَّبُ حينُهُ

    بِصُدورِ بيضٍ أَو صُدورِ مَداعِسِ

    Death has an appointed term; its hour is not hastened

    by the points of white swords or the points of spears.