إِذا خافَكَ القَومُ اللِئامُ وَجَدتَهُم

إِذا خافَكَ القَومُ اللِئامُ وَجَدتَهُم

سَراعاً إِلى ما تَشتَهي وَتُريدُ

سَراعاً إِلى ما تَشتَهي وَتُريدُ

When base people fear you, you will find them

If the base people fear you, you'll find them

Hastening toward what you desire and want.

Rushing to do all you desire and want.

وَإِن أَمِنوا شَرَّ اِمرِئٍ نَصَبوا لَهُ

وَإِن أَمِنوا شَرَّ اِمرِئٍ نَصَبوا لَهُ

عَداواتِهِم إِمّا رَأَوهُ يَحيدُ

عَداواتِهِم إِمّا رَأَوهُ يَحيدُ

And if they feel safe from a man's harm, they direct against him

And if they feel safe from a man's evil,

Their hostility, if they see him shrink back.

They set their hatred against him, once they see him deviate.

فَداوِهِمُ بِالشَرِّ حَتّى تُذِلَّهُم

فَداوِهِمُ بِالشَرِّ حَتّى تُذِلَّهُم

وَأَنتَ إِذا ما رُمتَ ذاكَ حَميدُ

وَأَنتَ إِذا ما رُمتَ ذاكَ حَميدُ

So cure them with harm until you humble them,

So counter their evil with evil, until you humiliate them.

And you are praiseworthy when you seek that.

While you, when you aim to do that, are praiseworthy.

وَهُم إِن أَصابوا مِنكَ في ذاكَ غَفلَةً

وَهُم إِن أَصابوا مِنكَ في ذاكَ غَفلَةً

أَتاكَ وَعيدٌ مِنهُمُ وَوَعيدُ

أَتاكَ وَعيدٌ مِنهُمُ وَوَعيدُ

And if they catch you off guard in that,

And if in that they find you inattentive,

A threat will come to you from them, and another threat.

Threats will come at you from them, and threats.

فَلا تَخشَهُم وَاِخشُن عَلَيهِم فَإِنَّهُم

فَلا تَخشَهُم وَاِخشُن عَلَيهِم فَإِنَّهُم

إِذا أَمِنوا مِنكَ الصَيالَ أُسودُ

إِذا أَمِنوا مِنكَ الصَيالَ أُسودُ

So do not fear them, and be harsh with them, for they

So fear them not, but fear for them, for they -

Are lions when they feel safe from your onslaught.

When they feel safe from your drawing sword - are lions.