لا تَمتَدِحْه فَإِنَّ الشحَّ شيمَتُهُ

وَالبخلُ طَبعٌ لَه في الدّهرِ لم يَجُدِ

Do not praise him, for avarice is his very nature;

stinginess is ingrained in him—never in all time has he been generous.

لَقَد رَأى مادراً في النَّاسِ ذا سَرفٍ

وَظَنّهُ حاتَماً في بَذلِ كلّ يَدِ

He once saw among the people a eulogist, prodigal in praise,

and took him for Ḥātim, lavishing every bounty.

لو يَملِكُ المَاءَ ماتَ النّاسُ مِن عَطَشٍ

لَو يَملِكُ القوتَ أَفنى كُلَّ ذي كَبِدِ

Were the water his, people would die of thirst;

were food his, he would make every living creature perish.

لَو كانَ أَرضاً لَكانَت غَيرَ منبتة

لَو كانَ شَمساً لَما بانَت على أَحدِ

Were he the earth, it would be barren;

were he the sun, it would appear to no one.