لا أُعيرُ الدَهرَ سَمعي

لِيَعيبوا لي حَبيبا

I do not lend my ears to time

I do not lend my hearing to the world,

That they may find faults with my love;

That they might slander a beloved to me;

لا وَلا أَذخَرُ عِندي

لِلأَخِلّاءِ العُيوبا

Nor do I take to heart with me

No, nor do I hoard within my heart,

The reproaches of the envious.

The faults of my companions.

فَإِذا ما كانَ كَونٌ

قُمتُ بِالغَيبِ خَطيبا

So if Time is ever on the wing,

But should a circumstance arise,

In absence I make love my theme;

I stand, an orator in their defense in absence;

أَحفَظُ الإِخوانَ كَيما

يَحفَظوا مِنّي المَغيبا

And I remind my dear ones so

I guard the honor of my brethren,

That they, remembering me, redeem.

That they may guard my name when I am gone.