1. You made me a promise, so where is its success?
The time has come, O son of the most generous, for its fulfillment
١. قدَّمتَ لي وعداً فأين نجاحُهُ
قَدْ حان يا ابنَ الأكرمينَ سَرَاحُهُ
2. Do not be pleased with the beauty of what you have offered
Lest you later commit a trespass that would ruin it
٢. لا يعجبنَّك حسنُ ما قدَّمتَه
فتسيءَ بعدُ إساءةً تجتاحُهُ
3. Know that if you slacken from what
You took on yourself out of good manners, its light will be extinguished
٣. واعلم بأنك إن فترتَ عن الذي
أسلفت من عُرفٍ خبا مصباحُهُ
4. The generous person is not one whose generosity appears only in the morning
Until his generosity appears both morning and evening
٤. ليس الجواد بمن يجود غُدُوُّهُ
حتى يجودَ غدوُّهُ ورَواحُهُ
5. And he remains for long among those asking
As if the seal of his generosity were its key
٥. ويطول بين السائلين بَقاؤه
وكأن خاتم جوده مِفْتاحُهُ
6. He does not change or alter his pledge
His character and dawn are eternal
٦. لا يستحيل ولا يغيِّرُ عهدَه
إمساؤهُ أبداً ولا إصباحُهُ
7. What can I tell her whom you have accustomed
To your habits of attainment that pervade her?
٧. ماذا أجيب به الَّتي عوّدتَها
عادات نائلك الذي تمتاحُهُ
8. Shall I say: Alas! After you, his stinginess!
Or: After you, his generosity and leniency!
٨. أأقول ويحكِ حالَ بعدَك بخلُهُ
أم حال بعدك جوده وسماحُهُ