متى ما أقل يوماً لصاحبِ حاجةٍ

متى ما أقل يوماً لصاحبِ حاجةٍ

نعم أقضها قِدماً وذلك من شكلي

نعم أقضها قِدماً وذلك من شكلي

Whenever, one day, I say to someone in need,

Whenever I say to someone in need, "Yes,

“Yes,” I fulfill it promptly—that is my way.

I will grant your request immediately, as is my way,"

وإن قلت لا بتُّتها من مكانها

وإن قلت لا بتُّتها من مكانها

ولم أُوذِه فيها بجرٍّ مَطل

ولم أُوذِه فيها بجرٍّ مَطل

And if I say “No,” I settle it then and there,

And if I say "No" outright and do not

And do not hurt him over it with drawn-out delay.

Bother to soften it with gentle words,

ولَلَبَخلة الأولى أقلُّ ملامةً

ولَلَبَخلة الأولى أقلُّ ملامةً

من الجود بدءاً ثم تثنيه بالبخل

من الجود بدءاً ثم تثنيه بالبخل

For an initial act of stinginess earns less blame

Then for initial stinginess I deserve less blame

Than generosity at first, which you then follow with stinginess.

Than generosity at first and then withdrawing it through stinginess.