دَعيني أَنَل مالاً يَنالُ مِنَ العُلا

دَعيني أَنَل مالاً يَنالُ مِنَ العُلا

يَسعى كَدَّ في الإِقامَةِ وَالنَقلُ

يَسعى كَدَّ في الإِقامَةِ وَالنَقلُ

Let me attain the unattainable heights,

Let me attain wealth that cannot be attained

Striving hard, whether settled or on the move.

With toilsome residence or travel far and wide

وَلا تَحسَبيني أَنثَني مِن صُعوبَةِ

وَلا تَحسَبيني أَنثَني مِن صُعوبَةِ

فَسَهلُ العُلا في الصَعبِ وَالصَعبُ في السَهلِ

فَسَهلُ العُلا في الصَعبِ وَالصَعبُ في السَهلِ

And do not think I will yield to difficulty:

Think not that hardship can make me bow down

For ease in reaching the heights lies in hardship, and hardship in ease.

For steep ascents are easy on high cliffs beside

تُريدينَ إِدراكَ المَعالي رَخيصَةً

تُريدينَ إِدراكَ المَعالي رَخيصَةً

وَفيها التَغالي بِالنُفوسِ وَبِالبَذلِ

وَفيها التَغالي بِالنُفوسِ وَبِالبَذلِ

You wish to attain lofty honors cheaply,

You wish to reap sublime heights effortlessly

Yet their price is high—in lives and in giving.

Though souls therein must strive and hands provide

فَلا بُدَّ لِلجاني مِنَ الوَردِ شَكَّةً

فَلا بُدَّ لِلجاني مِنَ الوَردِ شَكَّةً

وَلا بُدَّ دونَ الشَهدِ مِن أَبَرِّ النَحلِ

وَلا بُدَّ دونَ الشَهدِ مِن أَبَرِّ النَحلِ

So whoever gathers roses must endure a prick,

To reach his goal the lover must cross a thorny patch

And honey cannot be reached without the bees’ stings.

Without the sting, no taste of honey can abide