أَمّا البَخيلُ فَلَستُ أَعذُلُهُ

كُلُّ اِمرِئٍ يُعطي عَلى قَدَرِه

The miser I do not blame,

Each gives according to his means.

أَعطى البَخيلُ فَما اِنتَفَعتُ بِهِ

وَكَذاكَ مَن يُعطيكَ مِن كَدَرِه

The miser gave, though nothing gained was I,

So too who gives you of his pained core.

أَما الكَريمُ يَحُتُّ نائِلُهُ

كَالغَيثِ يَسقي الناسَ مِن مَطَرِه

But the generous, how I love his giver!

Like rain refreshing people with its showers.

تَبَعَت عَطاياهُ مَواهِبَهُ

كَالسَيلِ مُتَّبِعاً قَفا مَطَرِه

His gifts followed his talents’ pace,

Like a torrent following the rain that poured.