1. My destiny reproached me when misfortunes assailed,
Reproaches that admit no words nor change,

2. I saw a man who enjoyed riches, then reverses befell him,
Events that ruin the virtue of one who dresses finely,

3. Lean me toward a care that suffices one so reproached,
The mate of a purpose attended by worries,

4. The brother of weakness attains wealth while tranquil,
Yet the striving of the crafty plotter goes astray,

5. Let me stand, my resolve content with poverty,
My face newly guarded, not debased,

6. For the youth lives not unless host to vicissitude,
Buffeted through his fortune’s caprice,

7. I say to the keen-witted bird, bad luck go with you,
For with greed you have gained nothing and owned nothing,

8. Ask people. I ask God alone,
And guard my honor from So-and-so and from So-and-so,

9. When night rides the weak, I ride it,
My companions being travel and my ready mount,

10. Misfortunes have hastened from me, son of resolve,
Whenever the abode of evil startles him, he departs,

11. When cares guest him, his purpose hosts them;
As long as they have not pitched camp, they do not alight,

12. The brother of resolve builds not his home on baseness;
Well known on the roads in every desolate waste,

13. When he desires, his resolutions lead him
To the praise of glorious deeds, not deterred by cowards,

14. We attained, through an easy abundance and means,
A copious wealth and overflowing plenty,

15. It suffices—save that reversals have pierced
The sweetness of wealth and monopolized the feeble one,

16. And my father possesses wealth that none denies him
And a habit—whenever goods run short—of returning,

17. I proposed to him the pact of brotherhood; so he reared me
Through the blessing of his praised craftsmanship,

18. A generous man whom coquettes vie over
And from whom they fall short in awe of one who grovels,

19. They see the place of blame, then he grants it;
Thus he checks himself from one to whom he accorded favor,

20. He has spontaneous boons and his words
Are action unless appointment of a promise accelerated,

21. A noble man gives though his money be little
And seeks no pretext against those who ask of him,

22. Unconstrained, when beneficence has met its people,
As if, through them, some of its burden touched him,

23. You see generosity flowing on the platter of his face
Though the land be arid where he dwells,

24. His bounty hosted me, so I embraced it—
A treasury guaranteed as praised storehouses,

25. He is the man: if straits should crush him, his repute returns you
A sea, and if you alight at moderation, he alights,

26. He speaks, so his words rise high, and he is equitable,
He refuses praise though he give generously,

27. If he singled out, the benefaction sought not its people,
And if he generalized, he gave beyond a meager measure,

28. So dwell as Bani Sabah’s neighbor, pledged
And take refuge in an unassailable, guarded fortress,

29. Know that I have not flattered you with praise
Nor approached you seeking largesse from a patron,

30. I am no railer if past deeds should rail against me
Nor one who carries my praise of what bears it not,

31. You preceded me in thanks and were forthcoming,
So I did not deny blessings or act miserly,

32. I fall short of things, but gratitude struggles on,
And it suffices you from one thanking who is not derelict,

33. I swear you have given me without my asking
And pardoned in kindness without being grudging,

34. Happy am I to be near you, rich man,
Though mishaps pelt me with gravel,

35. They are purebreds whose Lord trials do not court
Nor are you among them for praise set apart,