فإِن تَسأَلَنّي كَيفَ أَنتَ فَإِنَّني

صَبورٌ عَلى رَيبِ الزَمانِ صَعيبُ

If you ask me how I am, I am

If you ask me how I fare, know that indeed I

Patient with the hardship of time, arduous

Am patient against the vicissitudes of Time, unyielding;

حَريصٌ عَلى أَن لا يُرى بي كَآبَةٌ

فَيشمُتُ عادٍ أَو يُساءَ حَبيبُ

Eager that no sadness appears on me

Diligent that no gloom be glimpsed within me,

So an enemy may not gloat or a loved one be pained

Lest an enemy should gloat, or a loved one be grieved.