1. إني نظرت إلى الزما

    ن وأهله نظراً كفاني

    Indeed, I looked upon time

    and its people—a look that sufficed me.

  2. فعرفته وعرفتهم

    وعرفت عزي من هواني

    So I knew it, and I knew them,

    and distinguished my honor from my humiliation.

  3. فلذاك أطّرح الصد

    يق فلا أراه ولا يراني

    That is why I cast aside the friend:

    I do not see him, nor does he see me.

  4. وزهدت فيما في يدي

    ه ودونه نيل الأماني

    And I renounced what was in his hands,

    and beneath it lies the attainment of wishes.

  5. فتعجبوا لمغالب

    وهب الأقاصي للأداني

    So marvel at a contender

    who gave the farthest to the nearest,

  6. وانسل من بين الزحا

    م فماله في الغلب ثاني

    and slipped away from amid the crowd:

    so he has no equal in victory.