لَعَمْرُكَ مَا يُدْعَى الْفَتَى بَيْنَ قَوْمِهِ

بِذِي كَرَمٍ حَتَّى يَكُونَ كَرِيمَا

By your life, a young man is not called generous among his people

Unless he is truly generous.

وَلَنْ يَلْبَثَ الْمَرْءُ الضَّنِينُ بِمَالِهِ

إِذَا خَافَ غُرْمَاً أَنْ يُعَدَّ لَئِيمَا

The miserly man will not keep his wealth for long

If he fears loss, he will be called miserable.

فَلَيْسَ الْفَتَى مَنْ حَازَ مَالاً وَإِنَّمَا

فَتَى الْقَوْمِ مَنْ أَغْنَتْ يَدَاهُ عَدِيمَا

The young man is not one who has acquired wealth, but rather

The young man of the people is one whose hands have enriched the destitute.

فَمِزْ بَيْنَ مَا تَخْتَارُ فِي الْفِعْلِ وَالْتَمِسْ

لِنَفْسِكَ حَظّاً كَيْ تَكُونَ عَظِيمَا

So distinguish between what you choose to do, and seek

For yourself a share, that you may become great.