لا تَقنَعَنَّ وَمَطلَبٌ لَكَ واسِعٌ

فَإِذا تَضايَقَت المَطالِبُ فَاِقنَعِ

Do not be satisfied while your ambitions remain boundless,

For when demands seem too narrow, be content.

وَإِذا حَرَصتَ فَأَلقِ سَترَ قَناعَةٍ

مِن دونِ حِرصِكَ لا تَلَجَّ فَتَطبَعِ

When you are greedy, feign contentment,

Lest your greed lead you astray.

وَمِنَ المُروءَةِ قانِعٌ ذو هِمَّةٍ

يَسعى لَها فَإِذا نَبَت لَم يَقلَعِ

It is manly when one of ambition is content

And strives for it; once successful, he does not waver.

ما كُنتُ إِمَّعَةً وَلَكِن هِمَّةٌ

تَأبى الهَوانَ وَفُسحَةٌ في المَنجَعِ

I was not lazy, but ambitious

Refusing disgrace, yearning for open spaces.