1. أنا على ما أنا من الخلق

    باق على مذهبي وفي طرقي

    I am as I am in character,

    steadfast in my creed and in my ways.

  2. أصون عرضي وإن نطقت فذا

    بالحق فالحق لي يفي ويقي

    I guard my honor, and if I speak, it is

    with truth, for truth keeps faith with me and protects me.

  3. ما لي عدوّ سوى الكذوب فلم

    يزل عدوّ الصاحب الصدق

    I have no enemy but the liar, who has never

    ceased to be the enemy of my companion, Truth.

  4. لا أكذب اللَه إن لي شيما

    تحمي فمي من شوائب الملق

    I do not lie to God: I have virtues

    that guard my mouth from the taints of flattery.

  5. فلا كبير سطا عليّ ولا

    يد لها منة على عنقي

    So no mighty man has overpowered me, nor is there

    a hand whose favor weighs upon my neck.

  6. ولا تسابقت في المفاخر بل

    سرت الهوينا وفزت بالسبق

    Nor have I raced for glory; rather,

    I walked at ease and won first place.

  7. ولا اشتريت الثناء من أحد

    بالمال بل بالجهاد والأرق

    Nor have I bought praise from anyone

    with money, but with striving and sleeplessness.

  8. ولا تقاعست قط عن طلب

    لكنّ دهري عليّ في حنق

    Nor have I ever held back from any pursuit,

    but my times are full of wrath against me.

  9. أسقي غروسي فإن أجد ثمرا

    أقطف وإلا رضيت بالورق

    I water my plantings; if I find fruit,

    I pluck it; otherwise I am content with the leaves.

  10. والقنع للنفس راحة وغنى

    فلا طماعية بلا قلق

    And contentment is rest and wealth for the soul;

    for there is no greed without anxiety.

  11. هذي العنايا وهنّ بحر شقا

    أخوض والناس أوجبوا غرقي

    These troubles—and they are a sea of misery—

    I wade through, while people have decreed my drowning.

  12. إن كان لي حكمة فلي همم

    أسعى بها دون كل ذي حمق

    If I have wisdom, then I have aspirations

    with which I strive, apart from every fool.

  13. أقول والقول في فمي لهب

    يسطو على الأغبياء بالحرق

    I speak, and speech in my mouth is a flame

    that assails fools with its burning.

  14. قوم يرومون قفل كل فم

    لذا يلومون كل ذي نطق

    People seek to lock every mouth;

    thus they reproach everyone who speaks.

  15. يباركون انغلاق منفتح

    ويلعنون انفتاح منغلق

    They bless the closing of what is open,

    and curse the opening of what is closed.

  16. سبرت أخلاقهم فليس لنا

    إلا شقيّ يريك وجه تقي

    I have probed their morals: we have no one

    but a wretch who shows you a pious man's face.

  17. يا أيها القاصدون غلق فمي

    خبتم فهذا فم بلا غلق

    O you who seek to lock my mouth,

    you have failed, for this is a mouth without a lock.

  18. هداي برق وجهلكم سحب

    مهلاً فلا برق غير منطلق

    My guidance is lightning, and your ignorance is clouds.

    Not so fast: no lightning fails to burst forth.

  19. لدولة الحق سطوة قهرت

    بالعزم أهل الصفاح والدرق

    The dominion of truth has a might that has subdued,

    through resolve, the wielders of swords and shields.

  20. ليخفض الليل رفع رايته

    فذاك جيش الضحى على الأفق

    Let night lower its raised banner,

    for there is the army of morning light on the horizon.

  21. ليل فشا الصبح شهبه وإذا

    ذي الشهب بهم كسين بالغسق

    A night whose shooting stars the dawn exposed—and behold,

    these shooting stars are dark, clothed in darkness.