1. في اليَأسِ لي عِزٌّ كَفاني ذُلّي

    يَشرِكُني في المَوتِ كُلُّ خِلِّ

    In despair I have a dignity that has spared me humiliation.

    Every friend shares with me in death.

  2. وَلَستُ مِمَّن فَضلُهُ مِن فَضلي

    وَالسَيفُ راعٍ إِبِلي في المَحلِ

    Nor am I one whose generosity comes from my surplus.

    And the sword is my camels' shepherd in drought.

  3. يَسوقُها إِلى قُدورٍ تَغلي

    تُرقِلُ فيها بِالقُدورِ الجُزلِ

    It drives them toward boiling cauldrons.

    They trot there, in the great cauldrons,

  4. إِرقالُها وَالسَيرُ تَحتَ الرَحلِ

    رَأَيتُ بِالجودِ عُيوبَ البُخلِ

    As they trot on the march beneath the saddle.

    Through generosity I saw the faults of miserliness.