سَأَستَعطِفُ الأَيّامَ حَتّى تَرُدَّني

سَأَستَعطِفُ الأَيّامَ حَتّى تَرُدَّني

إِلى جانِبٍ مِنها يَلينُ وَيَسهُلُ

إِلى جانِبٍ مِنها يَلينُ وَيَسهُلُ

I will plead with the days until they restore me

I shall plead with the days until they return me

to a side of themselves that grows gentle and easy.

to a side of them that grows gentle and easy.

وَأَقنَعُ لا أَنَّ القَناعَةَ لي غِنىً

وَأَقنَعُ لا أَنَّ القَناعَةَ لي غِنىً

وَلَكِنَّ صَونَ العِرضِ بِالحُرِّ أَجمَلُ

وَلَكِنَّ صَونَ العِرضِ بِالحُرِّ أَجمَلُ

I make do—not because contentment is wealth to me,

And I am content—not because contentment is wealth to me,

but because safeguarding honor is finer in a freeborn man.

but because safeguarding honor better befits a noble man.