لَم يَبقَ في الناسِ إِلّا المَكرُ وَالمَلَقُ

لَم يَبقَ في الناسِ إِلّا المَكرُ وَالمَلَقُ

شَوكٌ إِذا لَمَسوا زَهرٌ إِذا رَمَقوا

شَوكٌ إِذا لَمَسوا زَهرٌ إِذا رَمَقوا

Nothing remains among people but deceit and flattery.

Naught remains among men but deceit and flattery

They are thorns when they touch, flowers when they gaze.

Thorns when touched, blossoms when beheld from afar

فَإِن دَعَتكَ ضَروراتٌ لِعِشرَتِهِم

فَإِن دَعَتكَ ضَروراتٌ لِعِشرَتِهِم

فَكُن جَحيماً لَعَلَّ الشَوكَ يَحتَرِقُ

فَكُن جَحيماً لَعَلَّ الشَوكَ يَحتَرِقُ

So if necessity calls you to keep their company,

So if necessities drive you into their company

then be an inferno; perhaps the thorns will burn.

Be a blazing hell, that the thorns may burn away