صَبَرتُ عَنِ اللَذاتِ لَمّا تَوَلَّتِ

صَبَرتُ عَنِ اللَذاتِ لَمّا تَوَلَّتِ

وَأَلزَمتُ نَفسي صَبرَها فَاِستَمَرَّتِ

وَأَلزَمتُ نَفسي صَبرَها فَاِستَمَرَّتِ

I patiently forwent pleasures when they turned away,

I endured deprivation when pleasures went away

I abstained from pleasures when they turned away,

And compelled my soul to patience, so it persevered.

And I made my soul get used to patience so it persisted

And compelled my soul to patience, so it endured,

وَما المَرءُ إِلّا حَيثُ يَجعَلُ نَفسَهُ

وَما المَرءُ إِلّا حَيثُ يَجعَلُ نَفسَهُ

فَإِن طَمِعَت تاقَت وَإِلّا تَسَلَّتِ

فَإِن طَمِعَت تاقَت وَإِلّا تَسَلَّتِ

And a person is only where he places himself:

A man is only where he puts himself

For a man is defined only by where he places himself:

For if the soul covets, it yearns; otherwise, it finds solace.

If it aspires it yearns, otherwise it settles

If the soul covets, it yearns; otherwise, it finds consolation.