ومنتظرٍ سؤالكَ بالعطايا

ومنتظرٍ سؤالكَ بالعطايا

وأشرفُ من عطاياهُ السؤالُ

وأشرفُ من عطاياهُ السؤالُ

And many a giver waits for you to ask for his largesse—

And many a man waits for you to ask for gifts,

yet the asking is nobler than his gifts.

yet asking is nobler than his gifts.

إذا لم يأتِكَ المعروفُ طوعاً

إذا لم يأتِكَ المعروفُ طوعاً

فدعهُ فالتنزّهُ عنه مالُ

فدعهُ فالتنزّهُ عنه مالُ

If a kindness does not come to you freely,

If kindness does not come to you freely,

leave it: holding aloof from it is wealth.

then leave it, for keeping clear of it is wealth.