1. في اليَأسِ لي عِزٌّ كَفاني ذُلّي

    يَشرِكُني في المَوتِ كُلُّ خِلِّ

    In despair I have dignity that has spared me humiliation.

    Every close friend shares in death with me.

  2. وَلَستُ مِمَّن فَضلُهُ مِن فَضلي

    وَالسَيفُ راعٍ إِبِلي في المَحلِ

    Nor am I one whose bounty comes from my surplus.

    And the sword is my camels' herdsman in drought.

  3. يَسوقُها إِلى قُدورٍ تَغلي

    تُرقِلُ فيها بِالقُدورِ الجُزلِ

    It drives them to boiling cauldrons.

    In those great cauldrons they trot,

  4. إِرقالُها وَالسَيرُ تَحتَ الرَحلِ

    رَأَيتُ بِالجودِ عُيوبَ البُخلِ

    As they trotted on their journey beneath the saddle.

    Through generosity I saw the faults of stinginess.