يا صاحِ بَيِّن حاجَتي

إِنَّ البَيانَ مَعَ السَدادِ

O my friend, make clear to me your need

For eloquence comes with integrity

صَرِّح بِإِحدى كِلمَتَي

نِ وَخُذ أَمانَكَ مِن جِهادي

Speak one of two words:

Take a pledge from me, or undertake jihad against me

بُخلُ البَخيلِ أَحَبَّهُ

مَطلُ الجَوادِ غَداةَ صادِ

The miser loves his stinginess

And the generous hates delay after promising

أَنتَ الغِنى لَولا مِطا

لُكَ وَالمِطالُ مِنَ الكِيادِ

You are rich even without wealth

While persistence comes from ambition

يا صاحِ لا تَلوِ العِدا

تِ فَإِنَّها دَينُ الهَوادي

O friend, do not pursue vengeance

For it is the debt of the ignoble

إِنَّ السَبيلَ عَلى اِثنَتَي

نِ اِختَرهُما يا اِبنَ الجِيادِ

The path branches into two

Choose between forgiving or punishing, there is no third option for the enemy

إِمّا تُسامِحُ أَو تُجا

مِحُ لَيسَ ثالِثَةٌ لِعادِ

It is enough for you, no need for long worship

Or supplication from a caller

يَكفيكَ لا طَولَ العِبا

دِ وَلا اِجتِهاداً مِن مُنادِ

You included the need of a friend

So take the ways of righteousness in fulfilling it

ضَمَّنتَ حاجَةَ صاحِبٍ

فَاِسلُك بِها سُبُلَ الرَشادِ

Death is something easy

And death fulfills all promises

المَوتُ شَيءٌ هَيِّنٌ

وَالمَوتُ إِنجازُ الوِعادِ

The truthfulness of a miser pleases me

And the lies of a generous upset me

صِدقُ البَخيلِ يَسُرُّني

وَيَسوؤُني كَذِبُ الجَوادِ

I keep my promise whether close or far

And when asked, I fulfill it

إِنّي لَأُنجِزُ ما وَعَد

تُ عَلى الطَريفِ وَفي التِلادِ

Either with compliance or objection

Rest from toil is better than struggle

وَإِذا سُئِلتُ أَتَيتُها

ضَربَ الأَميرِ طُلا الأَعادي

The brother of a miser is subdued

Like a mule, not to be reproached

إِمّا بِتَيّا أَو بِتَي

كَ وَراحَةٌ تَركُ الكِدادِ

O friend, make clear my need

And remember your guarantee on the day we meet again

وَأَخو المَباخِلِ مُطرِقٌ

كَالعَردِ لَيسَ بِمُستَزادِ

There is no good in the life of an ignoble person

Or one who distances himself from affection

يا صاحِ رَشِّح حاجَتي

وَاِذكُر ضَمانَكَ في المَعادِ

So profess your love to only one

Or be like an untamed horse

لا خَيرَ في دُنيا الكَري

مِ وَلا اللَئيمِ عَنِ الوِدادِ

But how can souls refuse

To pursue their whims wherever they lead?

فَاِندُب لِوِدِّكَ واحِداً

أَو كُن كَذي الفَرسِ الوِجادِ

One's fate is envied

And frivolity comes from a cheerful heart

بَل كَيفَ تَأبى لِلنُفو

سِ وَغَيِّها في كُلِّ وادِ

Women are fond of cheerfulness

And I see righteousness leading to corruption

المَرءُ يُغبَطُ حَظُّهُ

وَاللَهوُ مِن ثَمَرِ الفُؤادِ

So be patient with what you see unfolding

Fate cannot be warded off when hostile

وَعَلى النِساءِ بَشاشَةٌ

وَأَرى الصَلاحَ إِلى فَسادِ

فَاِصبِر لِقِسمَةِ ما تَرى

لا يُدفَعُ القَدَرُ المُعادي