الفَقرُ خَيرٌ مِنَ الشُحِّ المضِرِّ بِهِ

الفَقرُ خَيرٌ مِنَ الشُحِّ المضِرِّ بِهِ

لَيسَ الشّحيحُ بِما أوليهِ مُنتَفعا

لَيسَ الشّحيحُ بِما أوليهِ مُنتَفعا

Poverty is better than the miserliness that harms him.

Poverty is better than harmful stinginess

The miser gains no benefit from what I bestow on him.

The miser is not benefitted by what he is given

إِنَّ الشّحيحَ لَفي ضيقٍ لَدى فَرجٍ

إِنَّ الشّحيحَ لَفي ضيقٍ لَدى فَرجٍ

وَلَو رَأى فُرْجةً ذو الفَقرِ لاِتَّسعا

وَلَو رَأى فُرْجةً ذو الفَقرِ لاِتَّسعا

Indeed, the miser is in straits even amid relief.

Indeed the stingy person is in hardship in times of relief

And if the poor man saw an opening, he would surely find room.

While the poor person, if given relief, would expand