إذا المرءُ لم يُظهر لطالبِ رِفدِهِ

إذا المرءُ لم يُظهر لطالبِ رِفدِهِ

عُبوساً ولا بِشْراً فليْسَ بطائلِ

عُبوساً ولا بِشْراً فليْسَ بطائلِ

If a man, before one who comes seeking his bounty,

If a man shows the seeker of his bounty

shows neither a frown nor good cheer, he is of no account.

neither a scowl nor a smile, he is of no worth.

وذاك امرؤ لا باخلٌ همَّ بالندى

وذاك امرؤ لا باخلٌ همَّ بالندى

فسِيءَ ولا سمْحٌ فسُرَّ بسائِلِ

فسِيءَ ولا سمْحٌ فسُرَّ بسائِلِ

Such a man is neither a miser who, contemplating largesse,

And such a man is neither a miser who contemplated giving

is distressed, nor a generous soul gladdened by a petitioner.

and was distressed, nor a generous man gladdened by a petitioner.