وإذا رأتْ عيناي عالي رتبةٍ

وإذا رأتْ عيناي عالي رتبةٍ

بلغ المعاليَ وَهْوَ غيرُ مهذبِ

بلغ المعاليَ وَهْوَ غيرُ مهذبِ

And when my eyes see someone of lofty rank,

When my eyes see someone of high rank

Who has attained the heights, though he is unrefined,

Reaching lofty positions though not refined,

قالت لي النفسُ العروفُ بفضلها

قالت لي النفسُ العروفُ بفضلها

ما كان أولاني بهذا المنصبِ

ما كان أولاني بهذا المنصبِ

My soul, well aware of its own merit, says to me,

My soul says to me, boasting of its nobility,

"How much more deserving I was of this position!"

"How did such an undeserving one attain this station?"

فأقولُ يا نفسُ ارجعي وتأدَّبي

فأقولُ يا نفسُ ارجعي وتأدَّبي

وثقي فما الحسدُ الذميمُ بمذهبي

وثقي فما الحسدُ الذميمُ بمذهبي

So I say, "O soul, turn back and learn good manners,

So I say, "O soul, go back and learn good manners!

And be assured, for vile envy is not my way."

And have faith, for envy is not in my nature.

هي سُنَّةُ الدنيا فَكَمْ مِنْ فاضلٍ

هي سُنَّةُ الدنيا فَكَمْ مِنْ فاضلٍ

في الخاملين وكم تُرفِّع مِنْ غبي

في الخاملين وكم تُرفِّع مِنْ غبي

It is the way of the world: how many a worthy man

It is the way of the world - many a noble man

Is among the obscure, and how many a fool it raises high!

Is left behind, while many a fool is raised on high."