يا منْ سكونُ النفس في تأميلهِ

وبلوغها المأمولَ في تأميلِهِ

O you in whose contemplation the soul finds peace

And attains what it hopes for in its longing

قدَرِي لديك مُظاهرٌ لبليَّتي

فاصرفْ بطرفك عن جلالِ جليلِهِ

My destiny has aspects that show my misery

So turn your glance away from the majesty of its majestic one

أصبحتُ يحقر لي تطوّلك الغنى

فَتَخَطَّ قدْري وانْسَ نُبلَ نبيلِهِ

You have come to despise my poverty

So you dismissed my worth and forgot the nobility of the noble one

وابذلْ لعبدِك ما تيسَّر إنه

في حالةٍ تقذى جفونَ خليلِهِ

Bestow upon your servant what is made easy

For he is in a state that pains the eyes of his intimate one

ولتبلغنَّ به الغنى لكنّه

لا بدّ قبلَ غناه من تعليلِهِ

And let wealth reach him, but before his riches

It needs to justify him

لا تحقرنّ له التي في بذلها

إحياءُ مهجتِه وقتلُ غليلِهِ

Do not despise what will revive his spirit in its giving

And kill his anguish

وافرضْ له من فضل كفك قُوتَه

واعزمْ إذا اتّسعتْ على تنقيلِهِ

Apportion for him from the bounty of your palm his sustenance

And resolve, when you have ample means, to transfer him

واملك عليه جماح نفسك إنها

تأبى من المعروفِ غيرَ جزيلِهِ

Restrain your soul’s wings over him, for it

Refuses any kindness less than abundant

واعذرهُ في استعجالهِ بغياثهِ

لشديدِ حاجته إلى تعجيلِهِ

And forgive him for hastening his rescue

Due to his great need for expediting it

ولكان أوسعَ مُهلةً من غيره

لو تحسنُ الحوجاءُ في تمهيلِهِ

Though he would have been more patient than others

Had the wretched known how to gradually introduce it

واعلمْ ولستَ معلَّماً بحقيقةٍ

أن النوى تأبى ازدراءَ ضئيلِهِ

And know—though you are not truly informed—

That intentions refuse disparagement of their meager one

كلُّ النوال معونةٌ لمناله

عندَ الضرورةِ زينةٌ لمُنيلِهِ

Every grant is an aid to the one who requests it

When needed, an adornment for the attainer

ليس الجوادُ من اشترى شمسَ العلا

وحياةَ سمعتِها بموتِ هزيلِهِ

Not generous is one who bought the sun of glory

And the life of a reputation with the death of its feeble one

يا من يجود من الجَدا بكثيرهِ

ويُغيث قبلَ كثيرهِ بقليلِهِ

O You who gives abundantly of wealth

And relieves much before a little

فاقصدْ لحق الرأي لا جورِ الهدى

فلأنت أعلى ناظراً بجميلِهِ

So intend the truth of opinion, not injustice of guidance

For you are highest in looking with its beauty

وعليك عند بلوغنا آمالنا

بعريضِ فعلك في الورى وطويلِهِ

And upon you, when we attain our hopes

Is ample deed among mankind and its long one

ولكم جوادِ الكفِّ بخَّل سائلاً

فرماه بالحرمان عن تبخيلِهِ

Many who refused a begging hand

So he cast it away in deprivation of his stinginess

ولربما شقي الفتى بجوداه

ولربما حظي الفتى بنخيلِهِ

Sometimes the young man is miserable for his generosity

And sometimes the young man is fortunate for his stinginess