لُكُلِ اِمرىءٍ شَكلٌ مِنَ الناسِ مِثلُهُ

وَكُلُّ امرىءٍ يَهوى إِلى مَن يُشاكِلُه

Each man is akin to some shape of mankind

And each man inclines towards who resembles him

وَمالَكَ بُدٌّ مِن نَزيلٍ فَلا تَكُن

نَزيلاً لِمَن يَسعى بِهِ مَن يُنازِلُه

You have no choice but to lodge with a guest

So be no guest of one who seeks through you one to lodge with him

وَإِن أَنتَ نازَلتَ الكَريمَ فَلاقِهِ

بِما أَنتَ مِن أَهلِ المُروءَةِ قائِلُه

And if you lodge with the noble then meet him

With what you are capable of, of manliness, saying to him

وَإِن أَنتَ نازَلتَ اللَئيمَ فَكُن فَتىً

تُزايِلُهُ في فِعلِهِ وَتُحامِلُه

And if you lodge with the base then be a man

Who bears with him in his acts and who forbears him

إِذا لَم تُداخِل عِزَّ مَن كانَ ذا حِجىً

وَعَزمٍ وَحَزمٍ لَم تَجِد مَن تُداخِلُه

If you do not admit the honour of one dignified

And of resolve, prudence, you will not find one to admit you

وَما الناسُ إِلّا بِالأُصولِ فَإِنَّما

يُثَبِّت أَعلى كُلِّ بَيتٍ أَسافِلُه

For people are but by principles, surely

He makes firm the top of each house who made firm its bottom