خلقت عَلى ريب الحَوادث صابِراً

خلقت عَلى ريب الحَوادث صابِراً

وَفي كُل حال لِلمُهيمن شاكِرا

وَفي كُل حال لِلمُهيمن شاكِرا

I was created patient in the face of life's vicissitudes,

I was created patient in the face of misfortunes

and grateful to the All-Watchful One in every condition.

Thankful to the Overseer in every state

لَئَن كانَ حَظي نائِم السَعي في الوَرى

لَئَن كانَ حَظي نائِم السَعي في الوَرى

فَطَرفيَ لَم يَبرَح عَلى المَجد ساهِرا

فَطَرفيَ لَم يَبرَح عَلى المَجد ساهِرا

Even if my fortune lies asleep in its striving among humankind,

If my fortune sleeps in seeking glory on earth

yet my eye has never ceased keeping vigil for glory.

My eyes have not ceased to stay awake for glory

وَأَهلي وَإِن كانوا صُدور أَولي النَهى

وَأَهلي وَإِن كانوا صُدور أَولي النَهى

فَلا أَشتَهي في الدَهر إِلّا المَقابِرا

فَلا أَشتَهي في الدَهر إِلّا المَقابِرا

And though my kin were foremost among the wise,

And my family, though they are bosoms of those who forbid

yet in life I desire nothing but graveyards.

I desire in life only tombs

تُسيءُ بِيَ الأَيام حَتّى كَأَنَّها

تُسيءُ بِيَ الأَيام حَتّى كَأَنَّها

تَرانيَ مِن بَعد التَجارُب جابِرا

تَرانيَ مِن بَعد التَجارُب جابِرا

The days mistreat me, until it is as though

The days do me wrong until it is as though

after the trials, they take me for Jabir.

After trials, they see me enduring

فَلا زلت يا مَنصور تُؤنس وَحشة ال

فَلا زلت يا مَنصور تُؤنس وَحشة ال

سقيم إِذا أَمسى مِن الداءِ حائِرا

سقيم إِذا أَمسى مِن الداءِ حائِرا

So may you never cease, O Mansur, to soothe the loneliness of the

So I have not ceased, O Mansur, to comfort the loneliness of

sick man, when evening finds him bewildered by illness.

The sick man when evening finds him confused by illness