1. If my fear brings security, it is dearer to me
Than security that brings fear.
١. إِذا كانَ رُعبي يورِثُ الأَمنَ فَهوَ لي
أَسَرُّ مِنَ الأَمنِ الَّذي يورِثُ الرُعبا
2. Have you not seen that the Hashimites were told
Of the fruits of their efforts after they had calmed the people?
٢. أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ الهاشِمِيِّينَ بُلِّغوا
عِظامَ المَساعي بَعدَما سَكَنوا الشِعبا
3. And the young man Ka'b chose imprisonment
As a brother to the tiger, hastening to death like Ka'b.
٣. وَكانَ الفَتى كَعبٌ تَخَيَّرَ لِلسُرى
أَخا النِمرِ فَاِستَدنى إِلى أَجَلٍ كَعبا
4. And I have seen hardship always ridden
By those who never rode a difficult goal.
٤. وَإِنّي رَأَيتُ الصَعبَ يَركَبُ دائِماً
مِنَ الناسِ مَن لَم يَركَبِ الغَرَضَ الصَعبا