1. نبذ الزمان ذوي الفطانةْ

    وقد اصطفى الغوغا بطانةْ

    Time has cast aside the discerning,

    and has indeed chosen the rabble as its inner circle.

  2. فأخو الفطانة لم أجدْ

    خصمًا له إلا زمانَهْ

    For the man of discernment, I have found no

    adversary but his own age.

  3. يحيا الغبي منعّما

    و المال رغم الشينِ زانهْ

    The fool lives in comfort,

    and wealth, despite his ugliness, has adorned him.

  4. و جواره فطنٌ له

    زينٌ و ثوب الفقر شانهْ

    And beside him is a discerning man who has

    beauty, yet poverty's garment has marred him.

  5. ذاك الغبي مبرأٌ

    لكنّ هذا في إدانةْ

    That fool is acquitted,

    but this man stands condemned.

  6. عجبا لدهر ما يرى

    من عاقل إلا وخانهْ

    How strange is an age that never sees

    a wise man without betraying him!