وقِدْرٍ كَكَفِّ القِرْدِ لا مُسْتَعِيرُها

وقِدْرٍ كَكَفِّ القِرْدِ لا مُسْتَعِيرُها

يُعارُ وَلا مَنْ يأتِها يتَدسَّم

يُعارُ وَلا مَنْ يأتِها يتَدسَّم

And a pot like a monkey’s palm—no one who asks to borrow it

A kettle like the ape's paw has no one who borrows it

is lent it, nor does anyone who comes to it get any fat to eat.

It is lent but no one who comes to it smells its contents