1. When people refused my request though desirous of their gifts,
The self-sufficient and the avaricious and the envious,

2. And they reproached me and said, "Stand upon your generosity
Among people, between harm and patience,"

3. Tears flowed from my eyes, not from grief over them,
But from anger at them and from the pain of suppressed rage.

4. And I said, "Gently, lessen your blame,
When you rose high, we were lowered like pegs."

5. Had I found an easy way to gain wealth,
I would have clung to it and pounced like a lion.

6. But I was oppressed and did not choose to beg from them -
God did not make the oppressed to be a chooser.