المَجدُ أَوصَى بِأَنّي لا أَصونُ دَمي

المَجدُ أَوصَى بِأَنّي لا أَصونُ دَمي

لَكِن بِصَونيَ ماءَ الوَجهِ أَوصانا

لَكِن بِصَونيَ ماءَ الوَجهِ أَوصانا

Glory charged me that I should not spare my blood,

Glory enjoined me not to spare my blood,

but, in safeguarding the water of the face—honor—it counseled us.

Yet charged us that I should preserve my honor.

ما كُنتُ مِمَّن يَصونُ النّفسَ مِن تَلَفٍ

ما كُنتُ مِمَّن يَصونُ النّفسَ مِن تَلَفٍ

بَل كنتُ مِمَّنْ لِماءِ الوَجهِ قَد صانا

بَل كنتُ مِمَّنْ لِماءِ الوَجهِ قَد صانا

I was never one of those who guard the self from ruin;

I was not one to shield my life from ruin,

rather, I was one who had safeguarded the water of the face.

But one who had preserved my honor.