1. وعد الفتى بلسانه

    دَينٌ على إحسانِهِ

    A young man's promise, spoken with his tongue,

    is a debt upon his generosity.

  2. حقّ عليه وفاؤه

    في وقته ومكانِهِ

    Its fulfillment is his duty,

    at its appointed time and place.

  3. مطل الفتى عار وحا

    شاكَ من تبيانه

    A young man's delay is disgrace—and may

    you be spared its disclosure,

  4. سيما إذا ما كان في المعه

    ود من إمكانه

    especially when it is commonly known

    to lie within his means;

  5. والسعد من خدَّامه

    والنجح من أعوانه

    and fortune is among his servants,

    and success among his helpers,

  6. واليمن تابع قصده

    والجود طيُّ بنانه

    and good fortune follows his purpose,

    and generosity lies folded within his fingertips.

  7. والمستحق الزيّ لا

    يعني الكريم بشأنه

    And the one deserving of attire does not

    engage the generous man's concern for his plight;

  8. يشكو له ظمأً ولا

    يلوي على ظمآنه

    he complains to him of thirst, yet the latter does not

    heed his thirsty petitioner,

  9. حتى يقول بغيظه

    أوَّاه من عدوانه

    until he says in his anger:

    “Alas for his hostility!”

  10. هذا الصغار بعينه

    وبعونه وعيانه

    This is abasement itself,

    and with his aid and before his eyes.