ناسٌ وإن عاملتهم فذئابُ

ناسٌ وإن عاملتهم فذئابُ

وإذا طلبت نوالهُم فكِلابُ

وإذا طلبت نوالهُم فكِلابُ

People—yet if you deal with them, they are wolves;

People, though you deal with them, are wolves

and if you seek their bounty, they are dogs;

And when you seek friendship from them, they are dogs

وإذا اعتبرت عقولهم ألفيتهم

وإذا اعتبرت عقولهم ألفيتهم

بقراً ولكن ما لها أذنابُ

بقراً ولكن ما لها أذنابُ

and if you examine their minds, you find them

And when you examine their minds, you find them

cattle—but they have no tails.

Cows, but cows without tails