مَاذا تَراهُ يا ابنَ بِشرٍ لمَن

مَاذا تَراهُ يا ابنَ بِشرٍ لمَن

هِمَّتُه ضرَّةُ أَحوالِهِ

هِمَّتُه ضرَّةُ أَحوالِهِ

What do you see, O Ibn Bishr, for one

whose ambition is a rival wife to his circumstances?

تَعلو بِه طَوراً وكَم مِن فَتىً

تَعلو بِه طَوراً وكَم مِن فَتىً

عُلوُّهُ أَكبَرُ إِعلالِهِ

عُلوُّهُ أَكبَرُ إِعلالِهِ

At times it raises him high; and how many a young man

has his rise as his greatest affliction!

الناسُ صِنفانِ فمُستَرفِدٌ

الناسُ صِنفانِ فمُستَرفِدٌ

مالاً وَلاقيكَ بأَفضالِهِ

مالاً وَلاقيكَ بأَفضالِهِ

People are of two kinds: one asking for

money, and one meeting you with his bounty.

فَواحِدٌ يُنفِقُ مِن وَجهِهِ

فَواحِدٌ يُنفِقُ مِن وَجهِهِ

وآخَر يُنفِقُ مِن مالِهِ

وآخَر يُنفِقُ مِن مالِهِ

So one spends from his face—his dignity—

and another spends from his wealth.