لَو كانَ بَطنُكَ شِبراً قَد شَبِعتَ وَقَد

أَبقيتَ خُبزاً كَثيراً لِلمساكينِ

If your stomach was full by a hand's breadth, you'd be sated and have

Much bread left for the destitute.

فَإِن تُصِبكَ مِن الأَيّامِ جائِحَةٌ

لَم نَبكِ مِنكَ عَلى دُنيا وَلا دينِ

Were hardship's torrents to assail you,

We'd not mourn you, neither worldly goods nor faith.

مازِلتَ في سورَة الأَعرافِ تَدرُسُها

حَتّى فُؤادُك مِثلُ الخَزِّ في اللّينِ

You've studied the Chapter of the Heights unceasingly

Till your heart is soft as curds.

إِنَّ اِمرءاً كُنتُ مَولاهُ فَضَيَّعَني

يَرجو الفَلاحَ لعندي حقُّ مَغبونِ

I was once the patron of a man who forsook me,

Yet hopes I'll help him prosper - what cheek from a wretch I disown!