أَلا يا نَفسِ إِن تَرضَي بِقوتٍ

أَلا يا نَفسِ إِن تَرضَي بِقوتٍ

وَأَنتِ عَزيزَةٌ أَبَداً غَنِيَّه

وَأَنتِ عَزيزَةٌ أَبَداً غَنِيَّه

O my soul, if you are content with mere sustenance,

Take heed, O soul: if you are content with sustenance,

while retaining your dignity, you will forever be rich.

You will forever be dignified and rich.

دَعي عَنكي المَطامِعَ وَالأَماني

دَعي عَنكي المَطامِعَ وَالأَماني

فَكَم أُمنِيَةٍ جَلَبَت مَنِيَّةْ

فَكَم أُمنِيَةٍ جَلَبَت مَنِيَّةْ

Put covetous desires and wishes aside—

Put aside covetous desires and wishes,

for how many a wish has brought on death!

For many a wish has brought death.