إِذا كُنتَ تُهدي لي وَأُجزيكَ مِثلَهُ

فَإِنَّ الهَدايا بَينَنا تَعَبُ الرُسلِ

If you present me with gifts and I reciprocate alike,

Then gifts between us would weary the messengers.

فَلا أَنا مَغبونٌ وَلا أَنتَ في الَّذي

بُعِثنا كِلانا غَيرُ مُلتَمِسِ الرِسلِ

So neither I am cheated, nor are you in what

We were both sent for, seeking no messengers.

فَدونَكَ شُغلاً لَيسَ هَذا لَعَلَّهُ

يَعودُ بِنَفعٍ لا كَشُغلِكَ بِالنَسلِ

You have work to do, this is not it, perhaps

It yields benefit, not like your work for progeny.

أَبوكَ جَنى شَرّاً عَلَيكَ وَإِنَّما

هُوَ الضَبُّ إِذ يُسدي العُقوقَ إِلى الحِسلِ

Your father brought you harm, but he is

The wolf, when disobedience leads to ablution.

يَقولُ كَلاماً فوكَ يوجَدُ بَعدَهُ

كَذي نَجَسٍ يَحتاجُ مِنهُ إِلى الغَسلِ

He speaks words, yet after him is found

Filth, needing from it ablution.