لعمركBy your life ماnot المجدglory الأثيلdeep-rooted تكاثرvying for more
لعمرك ما المجد الأثيل تكاثر
ولاnor منغنمspoils يلفىis found لهof it المرءa man آخذاtaking
ولا منغنم يلفى له المرء آخذا
By your life, deep-rooted glory is not vying for more,
By your life, enduring glory is not obtained through proliferation,
Nor spoils that a man is found taking,
Nor can a man gain spoils forever as a taker.
ولاnor رتبةa rank يرقىhe rises لهاto it بعدafter رتبةa rank
ولا رتبة يرقى لها بعد رتبة
ولكنهbut it is الصبرpatience الجميلgracious علىin the face of الأذىharm
ولكنه الصبر الجميل على الأذى
Nor a rank to which he rises after another rank,
There is no rank above the rank already reached,
But it is gracious patience in the face of harm.
Except through beautiful patience over harm.