كيف خَلاصُ الحُرِّ منْ بِذْلةٍ

كيف خَلاصُ الحُرِّ منْ بِذْلةٍ

أم كيف تبقى نفسهُ حُرَّهْ

أم كيف تبقى نفسهُ حُرَّهْ

How can a free man escape abasement?

How can a free man escape abasement?

Or how can his soul remain free,

Or how can his soul remain free,

وهو إلى آخِرِ أيَّامِهِ

وهو إلى آخِرِ أيَّامِهِ

يَدْأبُ للخِرْقَةِ والكِسْرَهْ

يَدْأبُ للخِرْقَةِ والكِسْرَهْ

when, to the very end of his days,

While he, to the last of his days,

he toils for a rag and a crust?

Toils for a rag and a crust of bread?