بشار بن برد -- كل امرئٍ نصبٌ لحاجته -- Bashar ibn Burd -- Every one a cairn to his business

كل امرئٍ نصبٌ لحاجته       وعَلَيْهِ يُحْمَلُ أوْ لَهُ نَصَبُهْ
فاربع على خلقٍ لهُ خطرٌ   فِي الصَّالِحِينَ يَفُوزُ مُحْتَسِبُهْ
عيُّ الشريف يشينُ منصبهُ    وتَرَى الْوَضِيعَ يَزِينُهُ أدَبُهْ
وحراثة التقوى لمحترثٍ        كَرَمُ الْمَعَادِ وَمَا لَهُ حَسَبُهْ
وتَنَقُّصُ الْمَوْلَى مَوَالِيَهُ           عَارٌ يَكُونُ بِوَجْهِهِ نَدَبُهْ
وإذا نسيبكَ غلَّ ساعدهُ          ونأى فليس بنافعٍ نسبه
ومِنَ الْبَلاَء أخٌ جِنَايَتُهُ             عَلَقٌ بِنَا وَلِغَيْرِنَا نَشَبُهْ
خُذْ مِنْ صَدِيقِكَ غَيْرَ مُتْعِبِه        إن الجواد يؤودهُ تعبه
وَاسْتَغْنِ بِالْوَجَبَاتِ عَنْ ذَهَبٍ    لَمْ يَبْقَ قَبْلَكَ لاِمْرِىء ٍ ذَهَبُهْ
يَرِدُ الْحَرِيصُ عَلَى مَتَالِفِهِ         واللَّيث يبعثُ حتفهُ كلبهْ

Every one, a cairn to his business, either he carries it out, or for him there will be a calamity!

Therefore a residence over people is a danger for him, with good works he can win a reward in the hereafter. 
The governor is impotent, he discredits his position, observe the plebeian adorning himself with propriety,  
cultivating piety to earn the munificence of the afterlife and what it will pay him.

The patron’s following decreases, dishonor is a scare upon his face.

If a relative refuses his relief and remains remote then there is no return from the relationship.

The curse of a brother, his crime, blood clings to us but to our neighbors he is committed.

Taking effortlessly on account of your association, the generosity burdens him to the point of discomfort.

He has no need with portions of gold, but he will not give gold to another in your presence.

The one bent on his removal repays, the one in charge has the dog put down!

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English Translation by Mark F Westergreen

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