1. I acted miserly, but miserliness is not my nature,
Rather I saw poverty is the worst path.
١. بخِلتُ وَلَيسَ البُخلُ مِنّي سَجِيَّةً
وَلَكِن رَأَيتُ الفَقرَ شَرَّ سَبيلِ
2. Death is better for the young man than miserliness,
And miserliness is better than asking from a miser.
٢. لَمَوتُ الفَتى خَيرٌ مِنَ البُخلِ لِلفَتى
وَلَلبُخلُ خَيرٌ مِن سُؤال بَخيلِ
3. So do not ask one who has asked before,
For death is better than asking a constant asker.
٣. فَلا تَسأَلَن مَن كانَ يَسأَلُ مَرَّة
فَلَلمَوتُ خَيرٌ مِن سُؤالِ سَؤولِ
4. By your life! Your face has no worth,
So do not meet people with a humiliated face.
٤. لَعَمرُكَ ما شَيءٌ لِوَجهِكَ قيمَةٌ
فَلا تَلقَ إِنساناً بِوَجه ذَليلِ