أَفادَتني القَناعَةُ كُلَّ عِزٍّ

وَهَل عِزٌّ أَعَزُّ مِنَ القَناعَة

Contentment has provided me every honor

Contentment has bestowed upon me every honor,

And what honor is more honorable than contentment

And is there any honor dearer than contentment?

فَصَيِّرها لِنَفسِكَ رَأسُ مالٍ

وَصَيِّر بَعدَها التَقوى بِضاعَه

So make it for yourself a capital

So make it the capital wealth of your soul,

And make piety after it merchandise

And make piety your merchandise thereafter;

تَحُز رِبحاً وَتُغني عَن بَخيلٍ

وَتَنعَمُ في الجِنانِ بِصَبرِ ساعَه

You will gain profit and be free from the miser

You will secure profit and have no need of the stingy,

And delight in the gardens in an hour of patience

And enjoy bliss in Paradise for an hour's patience.