1. فَكَّرتُ في المالِ وَفي جَمعِهِ

    فَكانَ ما يَبقى هُوَ الفاني

    I reflected on wealth and on amassing it.

    So what remains proved to be what perishes,

  2. وَكانَ ما أَنفَقتُ في أَوجُهِ ال

    بِرِّ بِمَعروفٍ وَإِحسانِ

    while what I spent in the ways of

    righteousness, through kindness and benevolence,

  3. هُوَ الَّذي يَبقى وَأُجزى بِهِ

    يَوم يُجازى كُلُّ إِنسانِ

    was what endures, and for it I am rewarded

    on the day when every person is recompensed.

  4. وَمِن فَسادِ العُرفِ إِحصاؤُه

    وَذِكرُهُ في كُلِّ إِبّانِ

    Among the things that spoil kindness is tallying it,

    and mentioning it on every occasion.

  5. فَاِنشُر إِذا أوليتَ عُرفاً وَإِن

    أَولَيتَهُ فَاِستُر بِنِسيانِ

    So proclaim it when you are shown kindness; but if

    you bestow it, conceal it by forgetting.