ولَم أَرَ أَو فَي ذِمةً من دراهِمي

ولَم أَرَ أَو فَي ذِمةً من دراهِمي

وأَصدَقَ عهداً في الأمورِ العظائمِ

وأَصدَقَ عهداً في الأمورِ العظائمِ

I have seen none more faithful in keeping obligations than my dirhams,

And I have not seen or known in my dealings a dirham

Nor truer to a pledge in momentous affairs.

Or one more true to his word in weighty matters,

فكَم خانَني خِلٌّ وثِقتُ بعهدِه

فكَم خانَني خِلٌّ وثِقتُ بعهدِه

وكانَ صديقاً لِي زمانَ الدراهِمِ

وكانَ صديقاً لِي زمانَ الدراهِمِ

For how many a friend has betrayed me, whose pledge I trusted,

For how many a friend has played me false when I relied on his word,

And who was my friend in the days of dirhams.

And was only my friend in the days of the dirhams!