رِكْبتُك الخيرُ التي لم يزل

لها جوادٌ مسرج مُلجَمُ

Your generosity, which has always had

A saddled and reined steed,

لا تلهُ عنها إنها حُجَّةٌ

من حُجج المَدْح كما تعلمُ

Do not neglect it, for it is an argument

Among the arguments for praise, as you know.

وأسودُ الناسِ لهم سيّدٌ

مُسْتَنْهَضٌ في الحاجِ مُستَخدَمُ

The masters of people have a lord

Who is ready for the pilgrimage, being employed.

عجِبْتُ من منْع امرئٍ جاهَهُ

ما مَنْعُ من يُجْدي ولا يغْرمُ

I am surprised that a man of status prevented

What does not profit nor incur loss.

يثْلِم وفْرَ المال إعطاؤه

لكنَّ وفرَ الجاه لا يُثْلمُ

Hoarding wealth by giving it away

Harms not, but hoarding status does no good.

فمنْ رأى في بَذْلِهِ بَذْلَةً

للوجه والأوهامُ قد تُوهَمُ

So whoever sees stinginess in his giving

For face-saving, imaginations can be imagined.

فتلك من آرائه شُبهةٌ

مثلك من أمثالها يَسْلمُ

These are suspicions about him

Like you, he accepts the likes of them.

ليس لذي الجودِ سوى عِرْضِه

مِنْ ملكه دون الندى مَحرمُ

The generous person has nothing

Of his possessions forbidden except gifts.

وكل ما أنفقَ من مالِه

أو جاهِه فهْو لهُ مَغْنمُ

Everything he spends of his money

Or status, it is gain for him.

قد كادتِ الآمالُ من طول ما

تلْقاهُ من مَطْلك ما تُهْدَمُ

Hopes have almost collapsed from the prolonged

Disappointment received from you, so they crumble.