فتىً لا يرى تأخيرَ غوثِ وَليِّهِ

فتىً لا يرى تأخيرَ غوثِ وَليِّهِ

ولا يَقْتضيه الشكر بالعَرَض الأدنى

ولا يَقْتضيه الشكر بالعَرَض الأدنى

A young man who will not countenance delaying aid to his friend,

A youth who does not delay in aiding his ally,

Nor demands thanks from him for paltry worldly goods.

Nor does he make gratitude contingent on a paltry favor.

ولكنه يُعطي البلاغ إلى الغنى

ولكنه يُعطي البلاغ إلى الغنى

إلى أن يُعينَ الوُجْدُ همته الكبرى

إلى أن يُعينَ الوُجْدُ همته الكبرى

But he gives enough to sustain one until prosperity comes,

Rather he strives for excellence,

Until wealth supports his greatest ambition.

Until success aids his grand ambition.

هنالك يدعو الشاكرين لشكره

هنالك يدعو الشاكرين لشكره

بغير لسانٍ بل بألسنةِ الجَدْوى

بغير لسانٍ بل بألسنةِ الجَدْوى

Then he calls upon the grateful to thank him,

Thereafter he invites the grateful to thank him,

Not with a tongue, but with the tongues of bounty.

Not with words, but with deeds of lasting worth.

ولا عيبَ فيه غيرَ أني صحبتُه

ولا عيبَ فيه غيرَ أني صحبتُه

وَليّاً فأَعْشى ناظرِي خَشعةُ المولى

وَليّاً فأَعْشى ناظرِي خَشعةُ المولى

He has no fault, save that I kept his company,

His sole defect being that I associated with him

As a friend, and a dependent's humility dimmed my sight.

As a loyal friend, though he made my gaze downcast in awe.

تَعبَّدني بالعُرف حتى استذلَّني

تَعبَّدني بالعُرف حتى استذلَّني

على أنَّ في نفسي على غيرِه طَغْوى

على أنَّ في نفسي على غيرِه طَغْوى

He enslaved me through kindness until he humbled me,

He led me to piety until he belittled me,

Though my soul harbors haughty defiance toward anyone but him.

Though my soul still pridefully soars over others.