أقسمتُ إنْ جدَّ وطالَ المدى

أقسمتُ إنْ جدَّ وطالَ المدى

أروى الورى مِنْ بحرِهِ الزاخرِ

أروى الورى مِنْ بحرِهِ الزاخرِ

I swore: if the endeavor grows earnest and the course stretches long,

I have sworn: if he strives and time stretches on,

I shall give all humankind drink from its brimming sea.

he will quench humankind’s thirst from his brimming sea.

فقلْ لمنْ بالسبقِ تفضيلُهُ

فقلْ لمنْ بالسبقِ تفضيلُهُ

كمْ تركَ الأولُ للآخِر

كمْ تركَ الأولُ للآخِر

So tell him whose claim to distinction rests on having come first:

So tell whoever is favored for coming first:

How much the first has left for those who come after!

How much the first has left for the last!