أثنَى عليَّ الوَرَى بِأَنّي

أثنَى عليَّ الوَرَى بِأَنّي

لَمْ أَهجُ شَخصاً وَلَو هَجَاني

لَمْ أَهجُ شَخصاً وَلَو هَجَاني

People praised me because I

The people praised me for not insulting anyone,

did not lampoon anyone, even if he lampooned me.

Even if they had insulted me.

فَقلتُ لا خَيرَ في سِراجٍ

فَقلتُ لا خَيرَ في سِراجٍ

إنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ دافِئَ اللِّسانِ

إنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ دافِئَ اللِّسانِ

So I said: there is no good in a lamp

So I said, “A lamp is useless

if its tongue is not warm.

If it doesn’t give warmth with its flame."