الدَهرُ أَدَّبَني وَاليَأَسُ أَغناني

الدَهرُ أَدَّبَني وَاليَأَسُ أَغناني

وَالقوتُ أَقنَعَني وَالصَبرُ رَبانّي

وَالقوتُ أَقنَعَني وَالصَبرُ رَبانّي

Time disciplined me, and despair made me self-sufficient.

Time has taught me, and despair has made me wealthy

Time has disciplined me, and despair has enriched me,

And sustenance made me content, and patience nurtured me.

Sustenance has satisfied me, and patience has nurtured me

Sustenance has contented me, and patience has reared me,

وَأَحكَمَتني مِنَ الأَيامِ تَجرِبَةٌ

وَأَحكَمَتني مِنَ الأَيامِ تَجرِبَةٌ

حَتّى نَهَيتُ الَّذي قَد كانَ يَنهاني

حَتّى نَهَيتُ الَّذي قَد كانَ يَنهاني

And experience gained from the days made me wise,

Experience of the days has given me wisdom

And experience of the days has made me wise,

Until I admonished the one who had been admonishing me.

Until I abandoned what had been forbidden to me

Until I restrained the one who used to restrain me.