لا يَغُرَّنَّكُم عُلُوُّ لَئيمٍ

لا يَغُرَّنَّكُم عُلُوُّ لَئيمٍ

فَعُلُوٌّ لا يَستَحِقُّ سِفالُ

فَعُلُوٌّ لا يَستَحِقُّ سِفالُ

Let not the rise of an ignoble man deceive you;

Do not let a base man's elevation deceive you;

for elevation undeserved is degradation.

for undeserved elevation is abasement.

فَطُفُوُّ الغَريقِ فيهِ فُضوحٌ

فَطُفُوُّ الغَريقِ فيهِ فُضوحٌ

وَاِرتِفاعُ المَصلوبِ فيهِ نِكالُ

وَاِرتِفاعُ المَصلوبِ فيهِ نِكالُ

A drowned man floats—but therein lies disgrace;

For in the drowned man's floating lies disgrace,

and a crucified man is raised—but therein lies exemplary punishment.

and in the crucified man's elevation lies exemplary punishment.