بَنى مَعنٌ وَيَهدِمُهُ يَزيدُ

كَذاكَ اللَهُ يَفعَلُ ما يُريدُ

Ma'an builds and Yazid demolishes

Thus does Allah do what He wills

فَمَعنٌ كانَ لِلحُسّادِ غَمّاً

وَهَذا قَد يُسَرُّ بِهِ الحَسودُ

Ma'an was a sorrow for the envious

And this may bring joy to the envious

يَزيدُ يَزيدُ في مَنعٍ وَبُخلٍ

وَيَنقُصُ في النَوالِ وَلا يَزيدُ

Yazid increases in stinginess and miserliness

And decreases in generosity, never increasing