مَرتَعُ ذَودي مِن البِلادِ إِذا

ما شاعَ جَدبُ البِلادِ أَكلؤُها

My pasture for the guest, when the land is stricken

With drought, is the amplest and warmest of all;

يُكنُّ ضَيفي إِذا تأوَّبني

أَوسَعُ أَبياتِنا وَأَدفَؤُها

And when want visits my dwelling, the guest

Finds the fullest supply in my drinking-bowl.

عِندي لهَذا الزَمانِ آنيَةٌ

أملؤُها مَرَّةً وَأكفَؤُها

For these troublous times I have vessels of old

Now empty, now brimming, as Fortunes ordain.

خَيرُ الرِجالِ المرهَّقونَ كَما

خَيرُ تلاعِ البِلادِ أَوطؤُها

The best of all men are the sorely-tried,

As the best of all lands are the most desolate.