وَما خَصلَةٌ قَد تَذلُّ الرِجالَ

وَما خَصلَةٌ قَد تَذلُّ الرِجالَ

بَأَسوَا وَأَخزَى مِن المَسأَلَه

بَأَسوَا وَأَخزَى مِن المَسأَلَه

There is no trait that can abase men

And no trait that can abase men

more grievously or shamefully than begging.

Is worse or more shameful than begging.

فَإِن مُتَّ ضَرّاً فَلا تَسألَن

فَإِن مُتَّ ضَرّاً فَلا تَسألَن

أَخا الجَهلِ مِن مالِهِ خَردَلَه

أَخا الجَهلِ مِن مالِهِ خَردَلَه

Though you should die of want, never ask

So, even if you should die of want, never ask

an ignorant man for so much as a mustard seed of his wealth;

An ignorant man for a mustard seed from his wealth,

فَتَرجِع مِن عِندِهِ نادِماً

فَتَرجِع مِن عِندِهِ نادِماً

وَتَقطَع مِن كَفِّكَ الأُنملَه

وَتَقطَع مِن كَفِّكَ الأُنملَه

you will return from him full of regret

Lest you return from him regretful

and cut the fingertip from your hand.

And cut a fingertip from your hand.

وَإِن هو أَعطاكَ مَجهودَهُ

وَإِن هو أَعطاكَ مَجهودَهُ

فَلَيسَ بِأَعطى مِن المُكحُلَه

فَلَيسَ بِأَعطى مِن المُكحُلَه

And even if he gives you his utmost,

And even if he gives you all he can,

he gives no more freely than a kohl-pot.

He is no more generous than a kohl pot.