لَمّا اِغتَنى أَفقَدَنا نَفعَهُ

لَمّا اِغتَنى أَفقَدَنا نَفعَهُ

وَتِلكَ مِن شيمَةِ بَيتِ الخَلا

وَتِلكَ مِن شيمَةِ بَيتِ الخَلا

When he grew rich, he deprived us of his help.

When he became rich, he ceased to benefit us,

And that is a trait of the privy:

For such is the nature of opportunists.

يُسعى إِلَيهِ إِن غَدا فارِغاً

يُسعى إِلَيهِ إِن غَدا فارِغاً

وَما بِهِ نَفعٌ إِذا ما اِمتَلا

وَما بِهِ نَفعٌ إِذا ما اِمتَلا

One hastens to it if it becomes empty,

He is sought when he is free,

And it is of no use when it fills up.

Yet he is of no use when he is occupied.