ما أَسمَجَ النُسكَ بِسَآلِ

وَأَقبَحَ البُخلَ بذي المالِ

How ugly is asceticism in one who asks,

And how ugly is miserliness in one who is wealthy,

وَأَقبَحَ الثَروَةَ ما لَم تَكُن

عِندَ أَخي جودٍ وَإِفضالِ

And how ugly is wealth that is not

With a brother of generosity and favor.

وَالحِرصُ مِن شَرِّ أَداةِ الفَتى

لا خَيرَ في الحِرصِ عَلى حالِ

And greed is the worst trait of a young man -

There is no good in greed no matter the state.

مَن باتَ مُحتاجاً إِلى أَهلِهِ

هانَ عَلى اِبنِ العَمِّ وَالخالِ

He who sleeps needing his family

Is disdained by the son of uncle and aunt.

ما وَقَعَ الواقِعُ في وَرطَةٍ

أَزرى بِهِ مِن رِقَّةِ الحالِ

No one has fallen into hardship

More burdensome than poverty.