الدَهرُ أَدَّبَني وَاليَأَسُ أَغناني

وَالقوتُ أَقنَعَني وَالصَبرُ رَبانّي

Time has taught me, and despair has made me wealthy

Time has disciplined me, and despair has enriched me,

Sustenance has satisfied me, and patience has nurtured me

Sustenance has contented me, and patience has reared me,

وَأَحكَمَتني مِنَ الأَيامِ تَجرِبَةٌ

حَتّى نَهَيتُ الَّذي قَد كانَ يَنهاني

Experience of the days has given me wisdom

And experience of the days has made me wise,

Until I abandoned what had been forbidden to me

Until I restrained the one who used to restrain me.