لَئِن كُنتُ مُحتاجاً إِلى الحِلمِ إِنَّني

إِلى الجَهلِ في بَعضِ الأَحايِينِ أَحوَجُ

If I am in need of wisdom, indeed

I am more in need of ignorance at times

وَلي فَرَسٌ لِلحِلمِ بِالحِلمِ مُلجَمٌ

وَلي فَرَسٌ لِلجَهلِ بِالجَهلِ مُسرَجُ

I have a horse bridled with wisdom

And I have a horse saddled with ignorance

فَمَن شاءَ تَقويمي فَإِنّي مُقَوَّمٌ

وَمن شاءَ تَعويجي فَإِنّي مُعَوَّجُ

So one who wants to straighten me, I am straightenable

And one who wants to bend me, I am bendable

وَما كُنتُ أَرضى الجَهلَ خَدناً وَصاحِباً

وَلَكِنَّني أَرضى بِهِ حينَ أُحرَجُ

I never accepted ignorance as a companion

Except when I am pushed to the wall

الا ربما ضاقَ الفضاءُ بأهلِهِ

وأمكنَ من بين الأسنةِ مخرجُ

But sometimes the space gets too tight for its people

And a way out can be found from between the teeth

فَإِن قالَ قَوم إِنَّ فيهِ سَماجَةً

فَقَد صَدَقوا وَالذُلُّ بِالحُرِّ أَسمَجُ

So if some people say there is foolishness in it

They spoke the truth, and humiliation with freedom is more foolish