1. عليك بذكر الفكر إن كنت تدعي

    مقاماً سنياً ناله كل لوذعي

    Remember to reflect, if you lay claim

    to a lofty station attained by every keen-witted person.

  2. علا بك لجلاج اللسان تملقاً

    لكي تبتغي ما ناله كل مصقع

    A stammering tongue bore you aloft through flattery,

    so you might seek what every eloquent orator has attained.

  3. عجبت لمن نال العلا بفصاحةٍ

    وقد شتت التقوى إلى كل بلقع

    I marvel at one who attained eminence through eloquence,

    though he has scattered piety into every barren wasteland.

  4. علمت فلم تعمل نصحت فلم تصخ

    وعظت فلم تصنع زخرت فلم تع

    You knew but did not act; you were advised but did not listen.

    You were admonished but did nothing; you brimmed over but did not understand.

  5. عكفت على اللذات واللهو والهوى

    فلا بد تلقى في غدٍ بئس مصرع

    You devoted yourself to pleasures, diversion, and passion;

    so tomorrow you will surely meet a wretched death.

  6. عزمت بزعم منك أن تدرك المنى

    ونيل المنى صعب على كل مدعي

    You resolved, so you claim, to attain your wishes,

    yet attaining one's wishes is hard for every pretender.

  7. عُدولك عما نلته ببلاغةٍ

    نكوصٌ على الأعقاب في سوء مرجع

    Your turning away from what you attained through eloquence

    is a retreat on your heels to a wretched end.

  8. عدمت مع الإيجاد يا خسر صفقةٍ

    ضللت مع الإرشاد يا بئس موقع

    You came to nothing despite being brought into being—oh, what a losing bargain!

    You strayed despite guidance—oh, what a wretched place to land!

  9. عميت مع التبصير يا شؤم شقوةٍ

    حللت بها فانهض بنفسك أو دع

    You went blind despite enlightenment—oh, what ill-starred misery

    you have settled in! Rouse yourself, or let it be.

  10. عددت لك النصح الصريح مذكراً

    بخير متاب أن للنصح من يعي

    I have set out frank counsel for you, reminding you

    of a good repentance, for there are those who heed counsel.