سألتُ زماني وَهو بالجهلِ مُولعٌ

سألتُ زماني وَهو بالجهلِ مُولعٌ

وبالسُّخفِ مُهتزٌّ وبالنقصِ مُختصُّ

وبالسُّخفِ مُهتزٌّ وبالنقصِ مُختصُّ

I asked my age, enamored as it is of ignorance,

I asked my time, enthralled by ignorance

And thrilled by folly, and distinguished by deficiency.

Swaying with foolishness, defined by dearth

فقلتُ له هل من طريقٍ إلى الغنى

فقلتُ له هل من طريقٍ إلى الغنى

فقال طريقان الوقاحةُ والنَّقصُ

فقال طريقان الوقاحةُ والنَّقصُ

So I said to it, “Is there any path to wealth?”

I said, is there a path that leads to bounty?

It replied, “Two paths: shamelessness and deficiency.”

Two paths, it said - shamelessness and want.