إذا ما التَمَسْتَ الغِنَى بابنِ مَعْنٍ

إذا ما التَمَسْتَ الغِنَى بابنِ مَعْنٍ

ظَفِرْتَ وَأَحْمَدْتَ منه التماسَا

ظَفِرْتَ وَأَحْمَدْتَ منه التماسَا

If you seek riches through Ibn Maʿn,

If you seek wealth from a man of substance,

you will succeed and be glad you appealed to him.

You will succeed and praise your seeking.

وَمَنْ يَرْجُ شَمْسَ العُلَى من نَجِيبٍ

وَمَنْ يَرْجُ شَمْسَ العُلَى من نَجِيبٍ

فليس يَرَى مَنْ رَجَاهُ شِمَاسَا

فليس يَرَى مَنْ رَجَاهُ شِمَاسَا

And whoever hopes for the sun of glory from a noble man—

But he who hopes for the lofty sun from a star

none who places hope in him encounters reluctance.

Will never see the one he hoped for rise.