وَلَو أَنَّني أَسعى لنفسي وجدتني

قَليلَ المَساعي للَّذي أَنا كاسبُه

Had I sought my own good I would have been

Little striving for what profits me;

وَكُنتُ إذا حاوَلتُ في الدهر مطلباً

كَثير التأنّي في الَّذي أَنا طالبُه

And had I in this world of dust sought gain

I had been slow to what gained me would be.

وَلَكِنَّني أَسعى لأَنفع صاحبي

على أَنَّ هَذا الدَهرَ أَعيَت مذاهبُه

But I seek my friend's good though life's ways

Are glutted with things which soul's health tear;

وإن أَنا لا أَسعى له خفتُ عارَه

وَشبعُ الفَتى عارٌ إذا جاعَ صاحبُه

And though I strive not for him, the shame

Is mine if my friend stays hungry while I fare.