لا تسألِ الكذابَ عن نياتِهِ

لا تسألِ الكذابَ عن نياتِهِ

مادامَ كذاباً عليكَ لسانهُ

مادامَ كذاباً عليكَ لسانهُ

Do not ask the liar about his intentions

Do not ask the liar about his intentions

so long as his tongue keeps lying to you.

As long as his tongue lies to you

ينبيكَ ما في وجههِ عن قلبهِ

ينبيكَ ما في وجههِ عن قلبهِ

إن الكتابَ لسانهُ عنوانهُ

إن الكتابَ لسانهُ عنوانهُ

What shows in his face tells you of his heart;

What’s on his face will warn you about his heart

indeed, a book’s tongue is its title.

For a book, its title page is its tongue