1. إِذا أَعوَزَ العِزُّ طُلّابَهُ

    وَلَم يَبلُغوا مِنهُ آمالَهُم

    If honor eludes its seekers,

    And they do not attain their hopes of it,

  2. وَشِئتَ مُضاهاةَ أَربابِهِ

    وَما الحالُ تُشبِهُ أَحوالَهُم

    And you wish to rival those who possess it,

    Though your circumstances are not like theirs,

  3. فَكُن بِيَسيرِكَ مُستَغنِياً

    وَلا تَسأَلِ الناسَ أَموالَهُم

    Then be self-sufficient with what little you have,

    And do not ask people for their wealth.