رأيت الشصّ إن أعطى تقاصي

رأيت الشصّ إن أعطى تقاصي

وإن منع الكرامة والخصوصا

وإن منع الكرامة والخصوصا

I saw the miser draw away whenever he gave;

I saw the miser, if he gave he calculated

and if he withheld honor and special favor,

And if he withheld, it was honor and exclusivity

تكلم بالقبيح وقال زورا

تكلم بالقبيح وقال زورا

ولم تره على كرم حريصا

ولم تره على كرم حريصا

he spoke foully and uttered falsehoods,

He spoke ugly words and told lies

and you did not see him eager for generosity.

And you did not see him keen on generosity

وأهل زماننا إلا قليلا

وأهل زماننا إلا قليلا

بهذا الوصف قد نكصّوا نكوصا

بهذا الوصف قد نكصّوا نكوصا

And the people of our time, except a few,

And the people of our time, except for a few

have indeed fallen back in this manner.

With this description, they regressed, relapsing

وراموا ما يروم الشصّ أيضا

وراموا ما يروم الشصّ أيضا

وإن كتموا فقد صارواشصوصا

وإن كتموا فقد صارواشصوصا

They sought what the miser also seeks;

And they coveted what the miser covets too

and even if they conceal it, they have become misers.

And if they concealed it, they had become misers