١٢٦. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): عَجِبْتُ لِلْبَخِيلِ يَسْتَعْجِلُ الْفَقْرَ الَّذِى مِنْهُ هَرَبَ وَيَفُوتُهُ الْغِنَى الَّذِى إِيَّاهُ طَلَبَ فَيَعِيشُ فِى الدُّنْيَا عَيْشَ الْفُقَرَاءِ وَيُحَاسَبُ فِى الْآخِرَةِ حِسَابَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ.

126. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: I wonder at the miser who is speeding towards the very destitution from which he wants to run away and misses the very ease of life which he covets. Consequently, he passes his life in this world like the destitute, but will have to render an account in the next world like the rich.

وَعَجِبْتُ لِلْمُتَكَبِّرِ الَّذِى كَانَ بِالْأَمْسِ نُطْفَةً وَيَكُونُ غَداً جِيفَةً وَعَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ شَكَّ فِى اللَّهِ وَهُوَ يَرَى خَلْقَ اللَّهِ وَعَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ نَسِيَ الْمَوْتَ وَهُوَ يَرَى الْمَوْتَى وَعَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ أَنْكَرَ النَّشْأَةَ الْأُخْرَى وَهُوَ يَرَى النَّشْأَةَ الْأُولَى وَعَجِبْتُ لِعَامِرٍ دَارَ الْفَنَاءِ وَتَارِكٍ دَارَ الْبَقَاءِ.

I wonder at the proud man who was just a drop of semen the other day and will turn into a corpse tomorrow. I wonder at the man who doubts Allāh although he sees His creations. I wonder at him who has forgotten death although he sees people dying. I wonder at him who denies the second life although he has seen the first life. I wonder at him who inhabits this transient abode but ignores the everlasting abode.

126. Je m’étonne de voir l’avare se hâter vers la pauvreté qu’il avait fuie et voir la richesse s’esquiver devant ses yeux, vivant en ce monde comme les pauvres pour être jugé dans l’autre comme on juge les riches.

Je m’étonne du comportement de l’orgueilleux qui, jadis, était une gouttelette et sera demain une charogne. M’étonne aussi celui qui doute en Dieu tout en voyant Ses œuvres créées, celui qui oublie la mort tout en voyant les mourants... et celui qui construit la demeure périssable en délaissant la demeure durable.

Nahj al-Balāgha

Chapter #126