أَمَّا بَعْدُ،
Now,
فإِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الدُّنْيَا مَثَلُ الْحَيَّةِ:
the example of the world is like that of a snake
لَيِّنٌ مَسُّهَا، قَاتِلٌ سُمُّهَا،
which is soft in touch but whose poison is fatal.
فَأَعْرِضْ عَمَّا يُعْجِبُكَ فِيهَا،
Therefore, keep yourself aloof from whatever appears good to you
لِقِلَّةِ مَا يَصْحَبُكَ مِنْهَا،
because of its short stay with you.
وَضَعْ عَنْكَ هُمُومَهَا،
Do not worry for it
لِمَا أَيْقَنْتَ بِهِ مِنْ فِرَاقِهَا،
because of your conviction that it will leave you
وَكُنْ آنَسَ مَا تَكُونُ بِهَا،
and that its circumstances are vicissitudes.
أَحْذَرَ مَا تَكُونَ مِنْهَا،
When you feel most attracted towards it, shun it most,
فَإِنَّ صَاحِبَهَا كُلَّمَا اطْمأَنَّ فِيهَا إِلَى سُرُور أشْخْصَتْهُ عَنْهُ إِلىَ مَحْذُور،
because whenever someone is assured of happiness in it, it throws him into danger;
أوْ إِلَى إِينَاس أَزالَهُ عَنْهُ إِيحَاشٌ!
or when he feels secure in it, the world alters his security into fear;
وَالسَّلاَمُ.
and that is an end to the matter.
