إِن أَكُن خبتُ أَو حُرِمتُ فَما ذا

إِن أَكُن خبتُ أَو حُرِمتُ فَما ذا

كَ عَلى المَطلَبِ الكَريمِ بِعارِ

كَ عَلى المَطلَبِ الكَريمِ بِعارِ

If I have failed, or been denied—what of it?

If I have failed or been denied, that

There is no shame in seeking a noble prize.

is no disgrace to a noble quest.

يُحرَمُ اللَيثُ صَيدَهُ وَهوَ مِنهُ

يُحرَمُ اللَيثُ صَيدَهُ وَهوَ مِنهُ

بَينَ حَدِّ الأَنيابِ وَالأَظفارِ

بَينَ حَدِّ الأَنيابِ وَالأَظفارِ

The lion may be denied its prey, though it lies within reach,

The lion is denied his prey, though it lies

between the points of its fangs and claws.

between the edges of his fangs and claws.

وَيَزِلُّ السَهمُ السَديدُ عَن القَص

وَيَزِلُّ السَهمُ السَديدُ عَن القَص

دِ وَما زَلَّ عَن يَمينِ السِوارِ

دِ وَما زَلَّ عَن يَمينِ السِوارِ

The true-flying arrow may veer from its aim,

And a well-aimed arrow may miss its mark,

though it flew true from the warrior’s right hand.

though the skilled archer's right hand did not falter.

لَيسَ كُلُّ الأَقطارِ يَروى مِنَ الغَي

لَيسَ كُلُّ الأَقطارِ يَروى مِنَ الغَي

ثِ وَإِن عَمَّها بِصَوبِ القِطارِ

ثِ وَإِن عَمَّها بِصَوبِ القِطارِ

Not every tract of land is watered by the rain,

Not every land drinks its fill of rain,

though it sweeps them all with a shower of drops.

even if its showers spread over them all.

إِن تَخُنّي رِشاءَ دَلوي فَقَد أَح

إِن تَخُنّي رِشاءَ دَلوي فَقَد أَح

كَمتُ إِكرابَهُ بِعَقدٍ مُغارِ

كَمتُ إِكرابَهُ بِعَقدٍ مُغارِ

If the rope of my bucket betrays me, I have

If you betray me, O rope of my bucket, I have

secured its fastening with a tightly twisted knot.

secured its fastening with a tightly twisted knot.

أَو يَعُد فارِغاً إِلَيَّ فَما أَل

أَو يَعُد فارِغاً إِلَيَّ فَما أَل

قَيتُ إِلّا إِلى المِياهِ الغِزارِ

قَيتُ إِلّا إِلى المِياهِ الغِزارِ

Or if it comes back to me empty, I cast it

Or if it returns to me empty, I have

only into abundant waters.

cast it only into abundant waters.

كَم شَريفٍ ما فِعلهُ بِشَريفٍ

كَم شَريفٍ ما فِعلهُ بِشَريفٍ

وَغَنِيٍّ من نَفسُهُ في اِفتِقارِ

وَغَنِيٍّ من نَفسُهُ في اِفتِقارِ

How many a noble man has done what is not noble,

How many a nobleman whose deeds are not noble,

and how many a rich man’s soul remains in want;

and a rich man whose soul is in poverty,

وَرَفيعُ المَكانِ وَهوَ وَضيعٌ

وَرَفيعُ المَكانِ وَهوَ وَضيعٌ

وَلَئيمُ الأَخلاقِ حُرُّ النِجارِ

وَلَئيمُ الأَخلاقِ حُرُّ النِجارِ

and one high in station is himself base,

and one of high station, yet lowly,

while one vile in character is noble in stock.

and one of base character, yet noble in lineage!

إِن أَساءَ الزَمانُ بي فَلَقَد أَح

إِن أَساءَ الزَمانُ بي فَلَقَد أَح

سَنتُ صَبراً وَما أَساءَ اِختِياري

سَنتُ صَبراً وَما أَساءَ اِختِياري

If Time has treated me ill, I have shown

If time has treated me ill, I have indeed

fine patience, and my choice was not at fault.

excelled in patience, and my choice has not erred.

لَيسَ حَمدي وَلَيسَ ذَمِّيَ إِلّا

لَيسَ حَمدي وَلَيسَ ذَمِّيَ إِلّا

بَعدَ صَبرٍ وَبَعدَ طولِ اِختِبارِ

بَعدَ صَبرٍ وَبَعدَ طولِ اِختِبارِ

I neither bestow praise nor utter blame except

Neither my praise nor my blame is given except

after patience and prolonged examination.

after patience and after long testing.