صَدَقتُكَ صاحِبي لا مالَ عِندي

وَقَد كَثُرَ الضَيافِنُ وَالضُيوفُ

I have told you truly, my friend, I have no money,

Yet my guests and visitors have become many.

أُناسٌ في أَكُفِّهِم عِصِيٌّ

وَقَومٌ في أَكُفِّهِم سُيوفُ

Some have sticks in their hands,

And some have swords in their hands.

دَراهِمُهُم نَقِيّاتٌ وَلَكِن

نُفوسُهُمُ إِذا كُشِفَت زُيوفُ

Their coins are bright and new,

Yet their souls, when unveiled, are shabby and worn.

وَما في الأَرضِ مِن شِربٍ كَريمٍ

يُسَرُّ بِوَردِهِ الصادي العَيوفُ

And there is no generous drink on earth

That would please the thirsty outcast.