لا تعبَأنَّ بذي مَكْرٍ تحاذِرُهُ

لا تعبَأنَّ بذي مَكْرٍ تحاذِرُهُ

مَا راحَ يضرِبُ أخماساً لأسداسِ

مَا راحَ يضرِبُ أخماساً لأسداسِ

Pay no heed to a man of guile whom you fear,

Pay no heed to the schemer you fear

As long as he keeps scheming—setting fifths against sixths.

One who pretends at bravery with lions

دعه يحاول أن تندى أراكته

دعه يحاول أن تندى أراكته

بِصَيِّبِ المكرِ ما في ذاك من باسِ

بِصَيِّبِ المكرِ ما في ذاك من باسِ

Let him try to moisten his arak tree

Let him try to wet his dry twigs

With a downpour of guile—there is no harm in that.

With crafty rain, it does no harm

فالمكر يرجعه فيها على عَقِبٍ

فالمكر يرجعه فيها على عَقِبٍ

حتى تجفَّ ويعرى عِطفها الكاسي

حتى تجفَّ ويعرى عِطفها الكاسي

For guile turns him back on his heels in it,

For tricks recoil upon the trickster

Until it dries up and its leafy side grows bare.

Until the concealing cloak falls away

والمرء مهما يكنْ في السرِّ مرتقباً

والمرء مهما يكنْ في السرِّ مرتقباً

يكُنْ من اللّهِ في حِرْزٍ من النّاسِ

يكُنْ من اللّهِ في حِرْزٍ من النّاسِ

And a man, whenever he is watchful in secret,

And however a man hides his secret hopes

Will be under God's protection from people.

God keeps him safe from other men