وَقَصَّرَ آمالي مآلي إِلى الرَدى

وَقَصَّرَ آمالي مآلي إِلى الرَدى

وَأَنّي وَإِن طالَ المدى سَوفَ أهلِكُ

وَأَنّي وَإِن طالَ المدى سَوفَ أهلِكُ

And my end in death has curtailed my hopes,

My hopes shortened, my fate led to decay,

as has knowing that, however long life lasts, I shall perish.

Though my life be long, soon I will pass away.

فَصُنتُ بِماءِ الوَجه نَفساً أَبيةً

فَصُنتُ بِماءِ الوَجه نَفساً أَبيةً

وَجادَت يَميني بِالَّذي كُنتُ أَملِكُ

وَجادَت يَميني بِالَّذي كُنتُ أَملِكُ

So I guarded my proud soul with dignity,

I sustained a soul, stubborn and proud,

and my right hand gave freely of what I possessed.

With water on my face, and gave what I could.