في الناس مَن يألف الغَريبا

في الناس مَن يألف الغَريبا

حتىّ ترى شأنهُ غريبا

حتىّ ترى شأنهُ غريبا

Among people is one who befriends the stranger,

Some people befriend strangers

Until you find his conduct strange.

You'd think their ways were strange

وَفيهمِ مَن تحتاج حتىّ

وَفيهمِ مَن تحتاج حتىّ

تدري نسيباً لهُ نَقيبا

تدري نسيباً لهُ نَقيبا

And among them is one for whom you need—in order to

Others you must plead with

Find a kinsman of his—an investigator.

To get a relative's aid

عَواطف الحيّ لسنَ فيهِ

عَواطف الحيّ لسنَ فيهِ

فَهوَ جمادٌ يعصي المُذيبا

فَهوَ جمادٌ يعصي المُذيبا

The affections of the living are absent from him;

The living's feelings aren't in them

So he is lifeless matter, defying what would melt him.

They're like rocks, resistant to change

لا حَيوانٌ ولا نَباتٌ

لا حَيوانٌ ولا نَباتٌ

الّا يُراعي لَهُ قَريبا

الّا يُراعي لَهُ قَريبا

There is no animal or plant

No animal or plant

That does not care for a kinsman of its own—

But tends to those most near

الّا اذا جآءَ باعتذارٍ

الّا اذا جآءَ باعتذارٍ

وَقال اني اكون ذيبا

وَقال اني اكون ذيبا

Unless he comes with an excuse

Save when with an excuse they come

And says, 'I am a wolf.'

And say "I'll be a wolf today"