ظِلُّ اليَسارِ عَلى العَبّاسِ مَمدودُ

ظِلُّ اليَسارِ عَلى العَبّاسِ مَمدودُ

وَقَلبُهُ أَبَداً بِالبُخلِ مَعقودُ

وَقَلبُهُ أَبَداً بِالبُخلِ مَعقودُ

The shade of prosperity stretches over al-Abbas,

The shadow of the left upon Al-'Abbas is outstretched,

And his heart is forever bound by stinginess.

And his heart is forever bound with stinginess.

إِنَّ الكَريمَ لَتَخفى عَنكَ عُسرَتُهُ

إِنَّ الكَريمَ لَتَخفى عَنكَ عُسرَتُهُ

حَتّى تَراهُ غَنِيّاً وَهوَ مَجهودُ

حَتّى تَراهُ غَنِيّاً وَهوَ مَجهودُ

Indeed, the generous man's hardship is hidden from you,

Indeed, the generous one's hardship is hidden from you

So that you see him as rich, though he is hard-pressed.

Until you see him wealthy while he is impoverished.

وَلِلبَخيلِ عَلى أَموالِهِ عِلَلٌ

وَلِلبَخيلِ عَلى أَموالِهِ عِلَلٌ

زُرقُ العُيونِ عَلَيها أَوجُهٌ سودُ

زُرقُ العُيونِ عَلَيها أَوجُهٌ سودُ

And the miser has excuses concerning his wealth—

The miser has excuses for his wealth;

Blue-eyed, with black faces upon them.

Blue eyes over it or sullen faces.

إِذا تَكَرَّهتَ أَن تُعطي القَليلَ وَلَم

إِذا تَكَرَّهتَ أَن تُعطي القَليلَ وَلَم

تَقدِر عَلى سَعَةٍ لَم يَظهَرِ الجودُ

تَقدِر عَلى سَعَةٍ لَم يَظهَرِ الجودُ

If you are reluctant to give a little, and do not

If you dislike giving little when you cannot

Have the means to give abundantly, generosity will not appear.

Afford more, then generosity will not be seen.

أَورِق بِخَيرٍ تُرَجّى لِلنَوالِ فَما

أَورِق بِخَيرٍ تُرَجّى لِلنَوالِ فَما

تُرجى الثِمارُ إِذا لَم يورِقِ العودُ

تُرجى الثِمارُ إِذا لَم يورِقِ العودُ

Put forth leaves of goodness, that you may be looked to for bounty; for no

Be hopeful with good you wish for as gifts, for no

Fruit is hoped for if the bough puts forth no leaves.

Fruit is hoped for if the branch does not leaf.

بُثَّ النَوالَ وَلا تَمنَعكَ قِلَّتُهُ

بُثَّ النَوالَ وَلا تَمنَعكَ قِلَّتُهُ

فَكُلُّ ما سَدَّ فَقراً فَهوَ مَحمودُ

فَكُلُّ ما سَدَّ فَقراً فَهوَ مَحمودُ

Distribute bounty, and do not let its smallness deter you,

Give away gifts and do not let their paucity stop you,

For whatever relieves poverty is praiseworthy.

For all that fills a gap of need is praiseworthy.