ومعنفand a reprover ليof me إذwhen رآنيhe saw me مثرياrich
ومعنف لي إذ رآني مثريا
أدباin letters ومنand of كسبearning الثراءwealth عديماdestitute
أدبا ومن كسب الثراء عديما
And a man rebukes me, having seen me rich
He rebuked me when he saw me living luxuriously,
in letters, yet destitute of earned wealth.
Yet I have no wealth that I have earned.
يلحىhe chides علَىfor أنthat استميحI seek gifts وإنand even if أرىI am seen
يلحى علَى أن استميح وإن أرى
بضراعةwith humble pleading فيin محفلan assembly موسوماmarked
بضراعة في محفل موسوما
He chides me for seeking gifts, even if I am seen
He urged me to be modest, yet if I see
marked by humble pleading in an assembly.
A gathering where praise is expected,
صاحبتهI kept his company لاضعفno weakness عندbefore مبخلa miser
صاحبته لاضعف عند مبخل
يوماever ولاnor بعتI sold الثناءpraise لئيماto a base man
يوما ولا بعت الثناء لئيما
I kept his company, showing no weakness before a miser
I will not refrain from praising a miser
ever, nor did I sell praise to a base man.
One day, nor will I sell praise to the mean.
ومدحتهand I praised him والمدحand praise يحسنis fitting بالذىfor the one who
ومدحته والمدح يحسن بالذى
يعطيgives الألوفthousands ويقطعand grants as a fief الإقليماthe province
يعطي الألوف ويقطع الإقليما
And I praised him; praise befits one who
But I praised him, for praise befits one
gives thousands and grants a province as a fief.
Who gives thousands and conquers kingdoms.