أَرى مَوضِعَ المَعروفِ لَو أَستَطيعُهُ

أَرى مَوضِعَ المَعروفِ لَو أَستَطيعُهُ

وَأُغضي وَلَو شاءَ الغِنى لِيَ لَم أُغضِ

وَأُغضي وَلَو شاءَ الغِنى لِيَ لَم أُغضِ

I see where kindness is needed—if only I could offer it.

I see the place of kindness, though I cannot afford it

And I lower my gaze; had wealth favored me, I would not.

And I look away, though wealth beckons me, I do not indulge

أُلاحِظُ خَلّاتِ الكِرامِ بِغُصَّةٍ

أُلاحِظُ خَلّاتِ الكِرامِ بِغُصَّةٍ

وَيَقصُرُ مالي عَن بُلوعِ الَّذي يُرضي

وَيَقصُرُ مالي عَن بُلوعِ الَّذي يُرضي

I look upon the needs of the noble with a lump in my throat,

I notice the neglect of the generous with sadness

and my wealth falls short of attaining what would satisfy.

And my money falls short of what would satisfy

وَأَقبِضُ كَفّي عَن عَطايَ وَقَد يُرى

وَأَقبِضُ كَفّي عَن عَطايَ وَقَد يُرى

ذَهابي بِها عِندَ الفُضولِ عَنِ القَبضِ

ذَهابي بِها عِندَ الفُضولِ عَنِ القَبضِ

And I hold back my hand from giving, though one may see

And I close my palm from giving though it may seem

how, with wealth to spare, I stretch it out rather than hold back.

To others that I open it out of pretense

تُقَتِّلُنا هَذي اللَيالي وَلا تَدي

تُقَتِّلُنا هَذي اللَيالي وَلا تَدي

وَتَستَقرِضُ الأَيّامُ مِنّا وَلا تَقضي

وَتَستَقرِضُ الأَيّامُ مِنّا وَلا تَقضي

These nights kill us again and again, yet pay no blood money;

These nights kill us but do not end

and the days borrow from us, yet never repay.

And the days borrow from us but do not repay

وَلَولا النَدى ما طَأطَأَ العُدمُ هامَتي

وَلَولا النَدى ما طَأطَأَ العُدمُ هامَتي

وَلا كانَ يُنضيني مِنَ الهَمِّ ما يُنضي

وَلا كانَ يُنضيني مِنَ الهَمِّ ما يُنضي

And were it not for generosity, poverty would not have bowed my head,

And were it not for the dew, destitution would have bowed my pride

nor would the worry that wears me down have worn me down.

And nothing would console me from worries as it does

وَكَيفَ وُفورُ العِرضِ وَالمالُ وافِرٌ

وَكَيفَ وُفورُ العِرضِ وَالمالُ وافِرٌ

وَمَن يَخزُنِ الأَموالَ يُنفِق مِنَ العِرضِ

وَمَن يَخزُنِ الأَموالَ يُنفِق مِنَ العِرضِ

And how can one be rich in honor while rich in wealth?

And how can generosity overflow while wealth abounds

And whoever hoards wealth spends some of his honor.

And he who hoards money spends honor

وَمِن عَدَمٍ أَقري النَوازِلَ عِذرَةً

وَمِن عَدَمٍ أَقري النَوازِلَ عِذرَةً

وَلَو حَلَّ لي لَحمي قَرَيتُهُمُ بَعضي

وَلَو حَلَّ لي لَحمي قَرَيتُهُمُ بَعضي

And in my poverty, I serve my guests an apology;

And for lack of means, I make excuses to misfortunes

and were my flesh lawful for me, I would serve them part of myself.

And if I could, I would treat them to some of my flesh