أَرَى سَيْفَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ

مُنَاسَبَةٌ عِنْدَ اعْتَبِارِ الْمُنَاسِبِ

I see the sword of Abraham between me and it

A concord when the concordant is considered

بَشَرْتُ حُرُوفَ الْكَتْبِ عِنْدَ الْتِبَاسِهَا

وَتَبْشُرُ حَدَّاهُ حُرُوفُ الْكَتَائِبِ

I gave good news to the letters of the book when they were confused

And the edges of books give good news to the letters

مَا لِي أًعُذِّبُ نَفْسِي فِي مَطَامِعِهَا

وَالنَّفْسُ تُزْري بِتَهْذِيٍبِي وَتَهْذِي بِي

Why should I torture myself for its desires?

While the soul mocks my discipline and makes fun of me

وَإِذَا اسْتَعَنْتً عَلَى دَهْرٍ بِتَجْرِبَةٍ

تَأبَى الْمَقاديرُ تَجْرِيبِي وَتَجْرِي بِي

And if I seek help against fate with experience

Fate refuses my testing and does with me as it wills