إِن لَم يَكُن لَكَ لَحُمٌ

إِن لَم يَكُن لَكَ لَحُمٌ

كَفاكَ خَلُّ وَزَيتُ

كَفاكَ خَلُّ وَزَيتُ

If you have no meat,

If you have no meat,

vinegar and oil will suffice you.

vinegar and oil will suffice you.

أَو لَم يَكُن ذا وَهَذا

أَو لَم يَكُن ذا وَهَذا

فَكِسرَةٌ وَبُيَيتُ

فَكِسرَةٌ وَبُيَيتُ

And if neither this nor that is to be had,

Or if you have neither this nor that,

then a crust, and a little house

then a crust of bread and a little house will do,

تَظَلُّ فيهِ وَتَأَوي

تَظَلُّ فيهِ وَتَأَوي

حَتّى يَجيئَكَ مَوتُ

حَتّى يَجيئَكَ مَوتُ

where you may abide and take shelter

where you spend the day and take shelter,

until death comes to you.

until death comes to you.

هَذا عَفافٌ وَأَمنٌ

هَذا عَفافٌ وَأَمنٌ

فَلا يَغُرَّكَ لَيتُ

فَلا يَغُرَّكَ لَيتُ

This is honorable self-restraint and safety;

This is self-restraint and safety;

so do not let “if only” beguile you.

so do not let “if only” beguile you.