إِذا سَبَّني نَذلٌ تَزايَدتُ رِفعَةً

وَما العَيبُ إِلّا أَن أَكونَ مُسابِبُه

When the ignoble disparage me, I rise higher in nobility,

And no fault is there save that I am their disparager's target.

وَلَو لَم تَكُن نَفسي عَلَيَّ عَزيزَةً

لَمَكَنتُها مِن كُلِّ نَذلٍ تُحارِبُه

Had my soul not been precious to me,

I would have protected it from every ignoble warrior.

وَلَو أَنَّني أَسعى لِنَفعي وَجَدتَني

كَثيرَ التَواني لِلَّذي أَنا طالِبُه

And had I strived for my own benefit I would have been,

Often hesitant towards what I seek.

وَلَكِنَّني أَسعى لِأَنفَعَ صاحِبي

وَعارٌ عَلى الشَبعانِ إِن جاعَ صاحِبُه

But I strive to benefit my companion,

And it is a disgrace upon the sated one if his companion goes hungry.