إذا وَهَبْا اليومَ فلساً واحداً

إذا وَهَبْا اليومَ فلساً واحداً

يقصرُ عنا في السخاءِ جعفرُ

يقصرُ عنا في السخاءِ جعفرُ

If they both give a single fils today,

If today they gave away but one coin,

Jaʿfar falls short of us in generosity.

Jafar would be found lacking in generosity.

جعفرُ أعطى والزمانُ مقبلٌ

جعفرُ أعطى والزمانُ مقبلٌ

ونحنُ نعطي والزمانُ مدبِرُ

ونحنُ نعطي والزمانُ مدبِرُ

Jaʿfar gave while fortune was coming his way,

Jafar gave in prosperous times,

and we give while fortune turns away.

While we give in days of hardship.