and the designs were engraved 1 and the seals 2 and he learned arithmetic and writing. so why did they take these precautions without money and you are its plague 3 and you are its worm and its spark 4? and the first said guard your brother except from himself but i think that you have taken him in the mountains 5 and deposited him in the rocks and no friend messenger or helper has noticed him. who can prevent you from being more severe towards him than a thief and more hostile towards him than a usurper 6? and i make you have protected him from every hand that does not own him how can you protect him from the hand that owns him and it is more powerful over him and its motives are more and we know that preserving money is more difficult than collecting it? and have people come to anyone except themselves then their trustees 7? so money is for the one who preserves it and regret is for the one who wastes it 8. and spending it is its waste and if you improve it with this name and adorn it with this title.
ونقشت الرشوم ١ والخواتيم ٢ ، وتعلم الحساب والكتاب. فلم يتخذون هذه الوقايات دون المال؛ وأنتم آفته ٣ وأنتم سوسه وقادحه ٤ ؟ وقد قال الأول أحرس أخاك إلا من نفسه ولكن أحسب أنك قد أخذته في الجواسق ٥ ، وأودعته الصخور، ولم يشعر به صديق ولا رسول ولا معين. من لك بألا تكون أشد عليه من السارق وأعدى عليه من الغاصب ٦ ؟ وأجعلك قد حصنته من كل يد لا تملكه، كيف لك من أن تحصنه من اليد التي تملكه، وهي عليه أقدر ودواعيها أكثر، وقد علمنا أن حفظ المال أشد من جمعه؟ وهل أتي الناس إلا من أنفسهم، ثم ثقاتهم ٧ ؟ فالمال لمن حفظه، والحسرة لمن أتلفه ٨ . وإنفاقه هو إتلافه، وأن حسنتموه بهذا الإسم وزينتموه بهذا اللقب.