Version 1:
Among those unaware, the one aware,
Among the sleepers, the wide-awake,
The one with great wisdom moves on,
As a racehorse who leaves behind a nag.
Version 2:
Heedful among the heedless,
wakeful among those asleep,
just as a fast horse advances,
leaving the weak behind:
so the wise.
Version 3:
Heedful among the heedless, wide-awake among the sleepy, the wise [one] advances like a swift horse leaving behind a weak jade.
(Note: Version 1 is from the John Ross Carter and Mahinda Palihawadana translation. Version 2 is from the Thanissaro Bhikkhu translation. Version 3 is from the Acharya Buddharakkhita translation. Changes made to the text in order to achieve gender neutrality are marked with brackets.)
