عَلَيَّ للهِ عَهْدٌ لا يُكَدِّرُهُ

صَقْرٌ وَلاَ عَاشَ مَنْ لَمْ يُوفِ بالذِّمَمِ

I have a covenant with God that no falcon disturbs,

Nor has anyone lived who did not fulfill their oaths.

لاَ أَضْرَعُ الدَّهْرَ لِلأَطْماعِ ما بَلَّلَتْ

جَدَاوِلُ الرِّزْقِ ما يَقْحَلُ مِنْ رَحِمي

I do not beg this life for greedy hopes, however much

The streams of sustenance trickle from my womb.

وَلاَ رَضِيتُ بِخَسْفِ الضَّيْمِ ما حَمَلَتْ

كَفِّي اليَراعَ الذِي يَخْتالُ مِنْ كَلِمي

Nor have I accepted the shame of oppression, however much

My palm carried that which my words could not conceal.

وَلاَ أَجَبْتُ إلَى إعْطَا الدَّنِيَّةِ مَا

جَلَّتْ بأعْيانِ قَوْمِي في الوَرَى شِيَمي

Nor have I responded to the call of baseness, however much

My manners distinguished my people among mankind.

وَلاَ أَقَمْتُ بِأَرْضٍ لاَ أُصَانُ بِها

مَا ساعَدَتْنِي عَلَى تَرْحالِها قَدَمِي

Nor have I stayed in a land where I had no allies,

As soon as my feet aided me in leaving it behind.

وإنّني ذُو رَجاءٍ لا نَجَاحَ لَهُ

بِأَنْ يَبرِّ عَلَى رَغْم العِدا قَسَمي

And yet I have a hope in which there is no success,

That despite the hostility of enemies, my oath may prevail.

فَطَالَ ما صُنْتُ عِرْضَ العِلْمِ عَنْ دَنَسٍ

إنْ شَابَهُ مَعْشَرٌ بالحِرْصِ والنَّهَمِ

So long have I guarded the honor of knowledge from disgrace,

Even though a group surrounded it with greed and voracity.