صَدِيقي يَرَى التَّوفيق في البخل وحدَه

صَدِيقي يَرَى التَّوفيق في البخل وحدَه

فمن ذاك يَدْعُو نَفْسَه بالموفَّقِ

فمن ذاك يَدْعُو نَفْسَه بالموفَّقِ

My friend sees success in miserliness alone;

My friend sees success in stinginess alone

so he calls himself al-Muwaffaq, 'the Successful One.'

Then who is it that calls himself successful?

يودُّ لو أَنَّ الدَّهر صيفٌ مهَجِّر

يودُّ لو أَنَّ الدَّهر صيفٌ مهَجِّر

ليلبسَ فيه فردَ ثَوْبٍ مُمَزَّقِ

ليلبسَ فيه فردَ ثَوْبٍ مُمَزَّقِ

He wishes all time were a scorching summer,

He wishes time to be a scorching summer

so he could wear just one tattered garment throughout it.

So he can wear his tattered robe in it