غدوْنا إلى ميمونَ نطلبُ حاجةً

فأوسعَنا منعاً وجيزاً بلا مطلِ

We came to Mimoon seeking a favor

But we were met with tight-fistedness, no generosity at bestowed

وقد يعدُ المرءُ البخيلُ كراهةً

ألاءً رجاءً أن يُعانَ على البذْلِ

And the miser may feign refusal as politeness

Hoping to be pressed to give against his will

وقال اعذروني إن بُخْلي جِبِلَّةٌ

وإنّ يدي مخلوقةٌ خلقةَ القُفلِ

"Excuse me," he said, "for stinginess is my nature

And my hands are created, formed for locking up."

طبيعةُ بُخْلٍ أكَّدتْها خليقةٌ

تخلَّقْتُها خوفَ احتياجي إلى مثلي

A stingy nature confirmed by a creation

I've formed myself, fearing my own kind of need

فألقى إلينا عِذرةً لا نردُّها

وكان مُلقّىً حجةَ اللؤمِ والبخل

So he offered us an excuse we cannot refute

Casting the plea of meanness and stinginess