1. He who owns two dirhams, his lips
Have learned all kinds of speech and say:

2. The eloquent came forward to listen to him,
And you saw him swaggering among people.

3. If not for the dirhams he has in his purse,
You would have seen him the worst of creatures.

4. When a rich man lies, they say “You speak true,”
And “You have not spoken falsehood at all.”

5. But when a poor man is right, they say “You missed,
And lied, O you, and spoke heresy.”

6. Dirhams in all places
Adorn men with awe and majesty.

7. They are the tongue for him who wants eloquence,
And the weapon for him who wants to fight.