سُلَيمانُ لَو وَفَّيتَ مَدحِيَ حَقَّهُ

أَرَيتُكَ أَسبابَ المُنى كَيفَ تَنجَحُ

O Suleiman, had you fulfilled my praise as was its due,

You would have seen how the means to blessings can succeed.

بَسَطتُ يَدي حَتّى ظَنَنتُكَ قابِضاً

يَدَ الدَهرِ عَنّي وَهوَ أَزوَرُ أَكلَحُ

I stretched out my hand, thinking you were taking

The hand of fate from me, though it was bent on harm.

فَأَقصَدتَني بِاليَأسِ حَتّى تَرَكتَني

وَظَنِّيَ عَن نَيلِ الغِنى يَتَزَحزَحُ

So you frustrated me with despair, until you left me

With my hopes of gaining wealth retreating.

وَأَصعَبتَ لي مِن بَعدِ ما كُنتَ مُسهِلاً

مَغالِقَ بِرٍّ شارَفَت تَتَفَتَّحُ

And after you had eased my way, you made

The gates of kindness, once open, closed and locked.

فَمَن مالُهُ في ذِمَّةٍ كَيفَ يَجتَدي

وَمَن أَصلُهُ في ظُلمَةٍ كَيفَ يُمدَحُ

So how can one whose wealth lies in another's obligation

Find generosity? Or one whose roots are in darkness find praise?