لَئِن كُنتَ لا تولي يَداً دونَ إِمرَةٍ

لَئِن كُنتَ لا تولي يَداً دونَ إِمرَةٍ

فَلَستَ بِمولٍ نائِلاً آخِرَ الدَهرِ

فَلَستَ بِمولٍ نائِلاً آخِرَ الدَهرِ

If you bestow no favor unless you hold authority,

If you do not lend a hand without being commanded,

Then you will bestow no gift to the end of time.

Then you are no friend, attaining help in the end.

فَأَيُّ إِناءٍ لَم يَفِض عِندَ مَلئِهِ

فَأَيُّ إِناءٍ لَم يَفِض عِندَ مَلئِهِ

وَأَيُّ بَخيلٍ لَم يُنِل ساعَةَ الوَفرِ

وَأَيُّ بَخيلٍ لَم يُنِل ساعَةَ الوَفرِ

For what vessel has not overflowed when filled?

What vessel did not overflow when filled?

And what miser has not given in a time of plenty?

What miser was unrelenting in prosperous times?

وَلَيسَ الفَتى المُعطى عَلى اليُسرِ وَحدَهُ

وَلَيسَ الفَتى المُعطى عَلى اليُسرِ وَحدَهُ

وَلَكِنَّهُ المُعطي عَلى العُسرِ وَاليُسرِ

وَلَكِنَّهُ المُعطي عَلى العُسرِ وَاليُسرِ

And the noble man is not one who gives in prosperity alone,

The virtuous man gives not only in ease,

But he is one who gives in hardship and prosperity.

But even gives in hardship and ease.