لَقَد دُفِعنا إِلى حالَينِ لَستُ أَرى

لَقَد دُفِعنا إِلى حالَينِ لَستُ أَرى

ما بَينَ ذاكَ وَهَذا حَظَّ مُختارِ

ما بَينَ ذاكَ وَهَذا حَظَّ مُختارِ

We have indeed been driven into two conditions; I do not see

We are pushed toward two states, I do not see

between that and this any good fortune for one who chooses:

Between them an envied fate's selection.

إِمّا المُقامِ عَلى خَوفٍ وَمَسبَغَةٍ

إِمّا المُقامِ عَلى خَوفٍ وَمَسبَغَةٍ

أَوِ الرَحيلِ عَنِ الأَوطانِ وَالدارِ

أَوِ الرَحيلِ عَنِ الأَوطانِ وَالدارِ

either remaining amid fear and hunger,

Either to stay, living in fear and darkness,

or departing from native lands and home.

Or to leave, departing from home and abode.

وَالمَوتُ أَيسَرُ مِن هَذا وَذاكَ وَما

وَالمَوتُ أَيسَرُ مِن هَذا وَذاكَ وَما

كَربُ المَماتِ وَلا في المَوتِ مِن عارِ

كَربُ المَماتِ وَلا في المَوتِ مِن عارِ

And death is easier than this and that; and what is

And death is easier than both, nothing of

the anguish of dying? Nor is there any disgrace in death.

Death's agony, nor in it shame or disgrace.

مَن جاوَرَ الأُسدَ لَم يَأمَن بَوائِقَها

مَن جاوَرَ الأُسدَ لَم يَأمَن بَوائِقَها

وَلَيسَ لِلأُسدِ إِبقاءٌ عَلى الجارِ

وَلَيسَ لِلأُسدِ إِبقاءٌ عَلى الجارِ

Whoever lives beside lions is not safe from their ravages,

He who dwelt near lions did not feel safe

and lions show no mercy toward their neighbor.

From their sudden attacks. Lions do not spare a neighbor.