لِسانُكَ أَحلى مِن جَنى النَحلُ مَوعِداً

لِسانُكَ أَحلى مِن جَنى النَحلُ مَوعِداً

وَكَفُّكَ بِالمَعروفِ أَضيَقُ مِن قُفلِ

وَكَفُّكَ بِالمَعروفِ أَضيَقُ مِن قُفلِ

Your tongue, when promising, is sweeter than the honeybee’s yield,

Your tongue is sweeter than the bees’ honey in its promises,

Yet your hand, in acts of kindness, is tighter than a lock.

Yet your hand, in generosity, is tighter than a lock.

تُمَنّي الَّذي يَأتيكَ حَتّى إِذا اِنتَهى

تُمَنّي الَّذي يَأتيكَ حَتّى إِذا اِنتَهى

إِلى أَجَلٍ ناوَلتَهُ طَرَفَ الحَبلِ

إِلى أَجَلٍ ناوَلتَهُ طَرَفَ الحَبلِ

You fill whoever comes to you with hope, until, when he has come

You raise the hopes of whoever comes to you, until, when he reaches

To the appointed time, you hand him the end of the rope.

An appointed time, you hand him the end of the rope.