مَن لي بمن إنْ سُمته حاجةً

شمّر فيها فَضْلَ أذيالِهِ

Who is there for me when if I have a need

He girds up the skirts of his excellence

فيبذل النّفسَ ولا يرتضي

في لَزَباتي بَذْلَ أموالِهِ

And gives his soul without holding back

Giving his wealth unstintingly for my needs

وحاملٍ ثِقْلي على ظهرِهِ

كأنّه من بعض أثقالِهِ

Bearing my burden upon his back

As if it were part of his own burdens

لو غدر النّاسُ به كلُّهمْ

ما خطر الغدرُ على بالِهِ

If all men betrayed him

Betrayal would not cross his mind

وربّما أعرضتُ عنه فلا

أعدَمُ منه فضلَ إقبالِهِ

And if I turned away from him

I would not lack his constant kindness

ما عثرتْ رِجلُ اِمرئٍ مُنفِضٍ

أغنته كفّاهُ بإذلالِهِ

If a scornful man stumbled

His hands would suffice to humiliate him

ولا رأته عينُ ذي زلّةٍ

أَبدَلَ إفحاشاً بإجمالِهِ

Nor if the eye of a blunderer saw him

Would he replace propriety with impropriety