إِنّي رَأَيتُ الصَبرَ خَيرَ مُعَوّل

إِنّي رَأَيتُ الصَبرَ خَيرَ مُعَوّل

في النائِباتِ لِمَن أَرادَ مُعَوِّلا

في النائِباتِ لِمَن أَرادَ مُعَوِّلا

Indeed, I have found patience the best support

I saw patience as the best support

in adversity for whoever seeks support.

In adversities for those who want support

وَرَأَيتُ أَسبابَ القُنوعِ مَنوطَةً

وَرَأَيتُ أَسبابَ القُنوعِ مَنوطَةً

بِعُرا الغِنى فَجَعَلتها لي مَعقِلا

بِعُرا الغِنى فَجَعَلتها لي مَعقِلا

And I have seen the cords of contentment fastened

And I saw the means of contentment tied

to the loops of self-sufficiency, so I made them my stronghold.

To the forelocks of affluence, so I made it my fortress

فَإِذا نَبا بي مَنزِلٌ لا يُرتَضى

فَإِذا نَبا بي مَنزِلٌ لا يُرتَضى

جاوَزتُهُ وَاِختَرتُ عَنهُ مَنزِلا

جاوَزتُهُ وَاِختَرتُ عَنهُ مَنزِلا

So if an unsatisfactory dwelling proves inhospitable to me,

So if an unsuitable abode comes to me

I leave it behind and choose another dwelling in its place.

I pass it by and choose for it a dwelling

وَإِذا غَلا شَيءٌ عَلَيَّ تَرَكتُهُ

وَإِذا غَلا شَيءٌ عَلَيَّ تَرَكتُهُ

فَيَكونُ أَرخَصَ ما يَكونُ إِذا غَلا

فَيَكونُ أَرخَصَ ما يَكونُ إِذا غَلا

And if something becomes too costly for me, I leave it;

And if something becomes too expensive for me I leave it

so it is at its cheapest when it becomes costly.

For it becomes cheaper when it becomes expensive