لا تُرهِقَنَّكَ ضَجرَةٌ مِن سائِلٍ

لا تُرهِقَنَّكَ ضَجرَةٌ مِن سائِلٍ

فَلَخَيرُ دَهرِكَ أَن تَرى مَسؤولا

فَلَخَيرُ دَهرِكَ أَن تَرى مَسؤولا

Do not let annoyance at a petitioner overwhelm you.

Do not let weariness with a questioner weigh you down

For the best of your life is to see yourself sought out for help.

For the best of your times is when you see one hopeful

لا تَجبَهَن بِالمَنعِ وَجهَ مُؤَمِّلٍ

لا تَجبَهَن بِالمَنعِ وَجهَ مُؤَمِّلٍ

فَبَقاءُ عِزِّكَ أَن تُرى مَأمولا

فَبَقاءُ عِزِّكَ أَن تُرى مَأمولا

Do not affront the face of one who hopes with refusal.

Do not frown in refusal at a hopeful face

For your honor endures when you are looked to with hope.

For the continuance of your honor is to seem accepting

وَاِعلَم بِأَنَّكَ عَن قَليلٍ صائِرٌ

وَاِعلَم بِأَنَّكَ عَن قَليلٍ صائِرٌ

خَبَراً فَكُن خَبَراً يَروقُ جَميلا

خَبَراً فَكُن خَبَراً يَروقُ جَميلا

And know that before long you will become

And know that you will soon be gone

a tale; so be a beautiful tale that delights.

So be one whose passing is beautifully borne

يُلقى الكَريمُ فَيُستَدَلُّ بِبِشرِهِ

يُلقى الكَريمُ فَيُستَدَلُّ بِبِشرِهِ

وَتَرى العُبوسَ عَلى اللَئيمِ دَليلا

وَتَرى العُبوسَ عَلى اللَئيمِ دَليلا

The generous man, when met, is recognized by his cheerful face;

The generous man is met and is guided by his cheer

and you see a scowl as a sign of the base man.

While frowning on the wretched is proof