1. أَيُّها الجالِسُ المُفَكِّرُ في الأَم

    رِ المُعَنّى بِهِ اِعتِناء المَجوسِ

    O you who sit pondering the matter,

    preoccupied with it as intently as the Magians,

  2. تارِكٌ يَومَ الاِربِعاء عَن السَي

    رِ يَرومُ المَسيرَ يَومَ الخَميسِ

    refraining from travel on Wednesday,

    yet seeking to journey on Thursday:

  3. لا تُعادِ الأَيّامَ وَاِمضِ اِذا شِئ

    تَ فَاِن السعودَ مِثلُ النحوسِ

    Do not make enemies of the days; set out whenever you wish,

    for lucky stars are like unlucky ones.

  4. هَل رَأَيتَ النجومَ أَغنَت عَن المَأ

    مونِ في عزِّ مُلكِهِ المَأسوسِ

    Have you seen the stars do al-Ma'mun any good,

    in the glory of his firmly established dominion?

  5. خَلَّفوهُ بِعرصَتَي طَرسوسِ

    مِثلَما خَلَّفوا أَباهُ بطوسِ

    They left him behind in the two open courts of Tarsus,

    just as they left his father behind in Tus.