1. إن العداوة لم تزل

    في قلب من فيه القساوه

    Indeed, enmity has never ceased

    within the heart of one who is hard-hearted.

  2. كالنار يكمن ضوؤها

    في الجمر إكمان العداوه

    Like fire, whose light lies hidden

    in the embers, as enmity is concealed.

  3. فتثير هذي جزلها

    وتثير هاتيك الشناوه

    Then its logs stir up this fire,

    and hatred stirs up that enmity.

  4. والحاسدون فلا ترج

    جى منهم أبداً صفاوه

    And as for the envious, never hope

    for sincerity from them, ever.

  5. إن الحسود يريك ما

    تهوى ويبتطن الغباوه

    Indeed, the envious man shows you what

    you desire, while harboring folly within.

  6. إن الفشاكل للمجل

    لي حسد مذ حاز شاوه

    Indeed, the trailing horses, toward the front-runner,

    are envious ever since he gained his lead.

  7. والناس مثل الطير هذا

    شوذبيق وذا سماوه

    And people are like birds: this one

    a shūdhbīq, and that one a samāwah.

  8. والشر مر إن يدو

    م وفي أوائله حلاوه

    And evil is bitter if it endures,

    and in its beginnings there is sweetness.

  9. والذل في أهل المدا

    ئن والمعزة في البداوه

    And abasement lies among the people of cities,

    and honor in nomadic life.

  10. من شاب لم يدرك مناه

    إذا عداه في الصباوه

    Whoever has grown gray has not attained his desire

    if it eluded him in youth.

  11. والحر حر لا يغي

    ير حسن جوهره الخلاوه

    And the noble remains noble; unchanged

    by want is the beauty of his essence.

  12. سبحان من بيديه أح

    كام السعادة والشقاوه

    Glory be to the One in whose two hands lie

    the decrees of happiness and misery.