سَأُعمِلُ نَصَّ العيسِ حَتّى يَكُفَّني

سَأُعمِلُ نَصَّ العيسِ حَتّى يَكُفَّني

غِنى المالِ يَوماً أَو غِنى الحَدَثانِ

غِنى المالِ يَوماً أَو غِنى الحَدَثانِ

I shall drive the pale camels at full speed until I am stopped

One day by riches, or by death's release from need.

فَلَلمَوتُ خَيرٌ مِن حَياةٍ يُرى لَها

فَلَلمَوتُ خَيرٌ مِن حَياةٍ يُرى لَها

عَلى الحُرِّ بِالإِقلالِ وَسمُ هَوانِ

عَلى الحُرِّ بِالإِقلالِ وَسمُ هَوانِ

For death is indeed better than a life in which one sees

Upon a free man, through poverty, the brand of humiliation.

مَتى يَتَكَلَّم يُلغَ حُسنُ كَلامِهِ

مَتى يَتَكَلَّم يُلغَ حُسنُ كَلامِهِ

وَإِن لَم يَقُل قالوا عَديمُ بَيانِ

وَإِن لَم يَقُل قالوا عَديمُ بَيانِ

Whenever he speaks, the beauty of his speech is disregarded;

And if he says nothing, they say, 'He has no eloquence.'

كَأَنَّ الغِنى عَن أَهلِهِ بورِكَ الغِنى

كَأَنَّ الغِنى عَن أَهلِهِ بورِكَ الغِنى

بِغَيرِ لِسانٍ ناطِقٌ بِلِسانِ

بِغَيرِ لِسانٍ ناطِقٌ بِلِسانِ

It is as though wealth, on its owners' behalf—blessed be wealth!—

Though tongueless, were speaking with a tongue.