أَمّاas for البَخيلُthe miser فَلَستُso I do not أَعذُلُهُreproach him
أَمّا البَخيلُ فَلَستُ أَعذُلُهُ
كُلُّevery اِمرِئٍperson يُعطيgives عَلىaccording to قَدَرِهhis capacity
كُلُّ اِمرِئٍ يُعطي عَلى قَدَرِه
As for the miser, I do not reproach him.
The miser I do not blame,
Each person gives according to his capacity.
Each gives according to his means.
أَعطىgave البَخيلُthe miser فَماyet not اِنتَفَعتُI benefited بِهِfrom it
أَعطى البَخيلُ فَما اِنتَفَعتُ بِهِ
وَكَذاكَand likewise مَنwhoever يُعطيكَgives you مِنfrom كَدَرِهhis dregs
وَكَذاكَ مَن يُعطيكَ مِن كَدَرِه
The miser gave, yet I gained nothing from it.
The miser gave, though nothing gained was I,
And likewise, whoever gives you from his dregs.
So too who gives you of his pained core.
أَماas for الكَريمُthe generous man يَحُتُّshowers down نائِلُهُhis bounty
أَما الكَريمُ يَحُتُّ نائِلُهُ
كَالغَيثِlike rain يَسقيgives drink to الناسَthe people مِنfrom مَطَرِهits rainfall
كَالغَيثِ يَسقي الناسَ مِن مَطَرِه
As for the generous man, his bounty showers down,
But the generous, how I love his giver!
Like rain giving people drink from its showers.
Like rain refreshing people with its showers.
تَبَعَتfollowed عَطاياهُhis gifts مَواهِبَهُhis bounties
تَبَعَت عَطاياهُ مَواهِبَهُ
كَالسَيلِlike a torrent مُتَّبِعاًfollowing قَفاthe heels of مَطَرِهits rain
كَالسَيلِ مُتَّبِعاً قَفا مَطَرِه
His gifts followed his bounties,
His gifts followed his talents’ pace,
Like a torrent following on the heels of its rain.
Like a torrent following the rain that poured.