الجودُ أَخشَنُ مَسّاً يابَني مَطَرٍ

الجودُ أَخشَنُ مَسّاً يابَني مَطَرٍ

مِن أَن تَبُزَّ كُموهُ كَفُّ مُستَلبِ

مِن أَن تَبُزَّ كُموهُ كَفُّ مُستَلبِ

Generosity is rougher to your touch, O sons of Maṭar,

Generosity is too rough to the touch, O sons of Matar,

than having a plunderer’s hand wrest it from you.

For a plunderer's hand to wrest it from you.

ما أَعلَمَ الناسَ أَنَّ الجودَ مَدفَعَةٌ

ما أَعلَمَ الناسَ أَنَّ الجودَ مَدفَعَةٌ

لِلذَمِّ لَكِنَّهُ يَأتي عَلى النَشَبِ

لِلذَمِّ لَكِنَّهُ يَأتي عَلى النَشَبِ

How well people know that generosity wards off

How well people know that generosity is a defense

reproach—yet it consumes one’s wealth.

Against blame, but it lays waste to wealth.