1. الأَمرُ أَيسَرُ مِمّا أَنتَ مُضمِرُهُ

    فَاِطرَح أَذاكَ وَيَسِّر كُلَّ ما صَعُبا

    The matter is easier than what you have in mind.

    So cast aside your distress and make easy all that has grown difficult.

  2. وَلا يَسُرُّكَ إِن بُلِّغتَهُ أَمَلٌ

    وَلا يَهُمُّكَ غِربيبٌ إِذا نَعبا

    Nor let a hope gladden you, should you be granted its fulfillment;

    nor let a jet-black raven trouble you when it caws.

  3. إِن جَدَّ عالَمُكَ الأَرضِيُّ في نَبَإٍ

    يَغشاهُمُ فَتَصَوَّر جِدَّهُم لَعِبا

    If your earthly world grows earnest over some news

    that comes upon them, then regard their earnestness as play.

  4. ما الرَأيُ عِندَكَ في مَلكٍ تَدينُ لَهُ

    مِصرٌ أَيَختارُ دونَ الراحَةِ التَعَبا

    What do you think of a king to whom allegiance is owed

    by Egypt—would he choose toil rather than rest?

  5. لَن تَستَقيمَ أُمورُ الناسِ في عُصُرٍ

    وَلا اِستَقامَت فَذا أَمناً وَذا رَعِبا

    People's affairs will never be set right in any age,

    nor have they ever been: this one is safe, that one afraid.

  6. وَلا يَقومُ عَلى حَقٍّ بَنو زَمَنٍ

    مِن عَهدِ آدَمَ كانوا في الهَوى شُعَبا

    Nor do the sons of any age stand by the truth;

    since Adam's time, they have branched apart in their desires.