أَينَ الجَوابُ وَأَينَ رَدُّ رَسائِلي

قالَت تَنَظَّر رَدَّها في قابِلِ

Where is the answer, where is the reply to my letters?

Where is the answer, and where the reply to my missives?

She said, wait for her reply in the future

She said: Await their return in the time to come.

فَمَدَدتُ كَفّي ثُمَّ قُلتُ تَصَدَّقي

قالَت نَعَم بِحِجارَةٍ وَجَنادِلِ

So I extended my palm, and said, give alms

So I stretched forth my palm and pleaded: Bestow some charity,

She said, yes with rocks and bricks

She answered: Yes, indeed—with stones and heavy boulders.

إِن كُنتَ مِسكيناً فَجاوِز بابَنا

وَاِرجِع فَما لَكَ عِندَنا مِن نائِلِ

If you are poor, pass by our door

If you are truly a pauper, then pass by our door,

And go back, for you will get nothing from us

And turn back, for you shall receive no bounty from us.

يا ناهِرَ المِسكينِ عِندَ سُؤالِهِ

اللَهُ عاتَبَ في اِنتِهارِ السائِلِ

O reproacher of the poor when he asks

O you who rebukes the destitute when he makes his plea,

God blames the reproach of the beggar

God Himself has forbidden the scolding of the seeker.