قَنَعتُ بِالقوتِ مِن زَماني

وَصُنتُ نَفسي عَنِ الهَوانِ

I have been content with little since my youth

And guarded my dignity from disgrace

خَوفاً مِنَ الناسِ أَن يَقولوا

فَضلُ فُلانٍ عَلى فُلانِ

Fearing people would say

So-and-so is superior to so-and-so

مَن كُنتُ عَن مالِهِ غَنِيّاً

فَلا أُبالي إِذا جَفاني

He who found me financially self-sufficient

I care not if he abandons me

وَمَن رَآني بِعَينِ نَقصٍ

رَأَيتُهُ بِالَّتي رَآني

And he who saw me with critical eyes

I saw him with the same eyes

وَمَن رَآني بِعَينِ تَمٍّ

رَأَيتُهُ كامِلَ المَعاني

But he who saw me with approving eyes

I saw him as the epitome of virtue