إِن جادَ بِالمالِ سَمَحٌ يَبتَغي شَرَفاً

إِن جادَ بِالمالِ سَمَحٌ يَبتَغي شَرَفاً

آلَت مَعاشِرُ ما في كَفِّهِ جودُ

آلَت مَعاشِرُ ما في كَفِّهِ جودُ

If a generous man bestows wealth, seeking honor,

If a generous man gives wealth in pursuit of honor,

his companions swear no generosity lies in his hands.

Groups of people swear there is no generosity in his hand.

لَو ماجِدَ النَجمُ أَهلَ الأَرضِ عارَضَهُ

لَو ماجِدَ النَجمُ أَهلَ الأَرضِ عارَضَهُ

مِنهُم رِجالٌ فَقالوا أَنتَ مَمجودُ

مِنهُم رِجالٌ فَقالوا أَنتَ مَمجودُ

Were the star to vie in glory with earth’s inhabitants, it would be challenged

If the star vied with earth's people in glory,

by men among them, who would say, “You have been outdone in glory.”

Men among them would challenge it and say, “You are surpassed in glory.”

فَالرَأيُ هِجرانُكَ الدُنِّيا وَساكِنَها

فَالرَأيُ هِجرانُكَ الدُنِّيا وَساكِنَها

فَأَنتَ مِن جَودِ هَذي النَفسِ مَنجودُ

فَأَنتَ مِن جَودِ هَذي النَفسِ مَنجودُ

Sound counsel, then, is that you forsake the world and those who dwell in it,

So the wise course is for you to forsake the world and its inhabitants,

for this soul’s generosity has left you sorely afflicted.

For this soul's hunger leaves you sorely afflicted.

لا تُذهِبِ الوَجدَ في إيثارِ وَجدِهِمُ

لا تُذهِبِ الوَجدَ في إيثارِ وَجدِهِمُ

فَإِنَّ ذَمَّكَ بَينَ الإِنسِ مَوجودُ

فَإِنَّ ذَمَّكَ بَينَ الإِنسِ مَوجودُ

Do not exhaust your means in favoring their prosperity,

Do not squander your wealth to favor theirs,

for indeed, someone who censures you is to be found among humankind.

For censure of you is found among humankind.

وَإِن تَهَجَّدتَ لَم تُعدَم ثَوابَ تُقاً

وَإِن تَهَجَّدتَ لَم تُعدَم ثَوابَ تُقاً

وَإِن هَجَدتَ فَإِنَّ اللَيلَ مَهجودُ

وَإِن هَجَدتَ فَإِنَّ اللَيلَ مَهجودُ

And if you keep vigil in prayer, you will not be denied piety’s reward;

And if you keep vigil in prayer, you will not lack piety's reward;

and if you sleep, the night, after all, is there to be slept through.

And if you sleep, the night is indeed a time for sleep.