فَلا تَحسُدِ الكَلبَ أَكلَ الطَعامِ

فَلا تَحسُدِ الكَلبَ أَكلَ الطَعامِ

فَعِندَ الخَراءَةِ ما تَرحَمُه

فَعِندَ الخَراءَةِ ما تَرحَمُه

Do not envy the dog its eating of food;

So do not envy the dog his eating of food;

So envy not the dog that eats the food,

for when it defecates, you show it no pity.

for when he shits, you have no pity for him.

For when in need, it finds no mercy.

تَراهُ وَشيكاً تَشَكّى اِستَهُ

تَراهُ وَشيكاً تَشَكّى اِستَهُ

كلوماً جَناها عَلَيهِ فَمُه

كلوماً جَناها عَلَيهِ فَمُه

Soon you see it—its anus complaining

Soon you see him complaining of his anus,

Soon you will see it moan and cry aloud,

of wounds its mouth inflicted upon it.

of wounds his mouth has inflicted upon him.

The harm it did now comes back heavily.

إِذا ما أَهانَ اِمرؤٌ نَفسَهُ

إِذا ما أَهانَ اِمرؤٌ نَفسَهُ

فَلا أَكرَمَ اللَهُ مَن يَكرِمُه

فَلا أَكرَمَ اللَهُ مَن يَكرِمُه

When a man debases himself,

If a man debases himself,

When a man degrades himself in baseness,

may God not honor whoever honors him.

then may God not honor whoever honors him.

God will not honor one who honors him.