يقولون أَبْقِ المالَ واجمعْه مُمْسِكاً

فعِزُّ الفَتى في أن يَجُمَّ ثراؤُهُ

They say, "Keep your money, hoard it closely held"

For the pride of a man is in his wealth amassed

فقلت كلانا لا محالةَ هالكٌ

فأهوَنُ عندي من فنائِي فناؤهُ

I said, "We both shall die, that cannot be repelled"

So to me, its loss seems lighter than my death forecast

وإِنَّ بقاءَ المالِ بعديَ نافعٌ

لمن كان بعدي في الزمان بقاؤهُ

And money kept after me will benefit

Who comes later in time, if it stays unsurpassed

ثراءُ الفتى من دون إِنفاقِه له

فسادٌ وإِنفاقُ الثَّراء نَماؤهُ

A man's riches without spending are decay

While spending riches makes them grow robust and vast

فأَنفِقْ فإِن العينَ يركُدُ ماؤُها

فيأسَنُ والمنزوحُ يعذُبُ ماؤهُ

So spend, for still water stales, becomes distastefully stale

While flowing water stays fresh, tastes sweet, and will not go to waste