الناسُ أَخلاقُهُم شَتّى وَإِن جُبِلوا

عَلى تَشابُهِ أَرواح وَأَجسادِ

People's ethics are diverse, though their spirits and bodies are alike.

People differ in their natures, though they were molded

For good and evil they were created, each guided by their soul's desires.

Upon a likeness of spirits and bodies.

لِلخَير وَالشَرِّ أهلٌ وُكِّلوا بِهما

كُلٌّ لَه مِن دَواعي نفسه هادي

Among them is a loyal friend of pure heart and discipline,

Good and evil have their people entrusted to them,

on whom loyalty has pitched its tents with firm pegs.

And each has a guide from the impulses of his own soul.

منهم خَليلُ صَفاءٍ ذو محافظة

أَرسى الوَفاءُ أَواخيهِ بِأَوتاد

And a treacherous villain, hunched with guile,

Among them is the pure friend, a keeper of trusts,

his buried malice plain to see.

Whose bonds loyalty has anchored with firm pegs.

وَمشعرُ الغدر مَحنيٌّ أُضالعه

عَلى سَريرة غمر غِلُّها بادي

A quarrelsome hypocrite, full of mischief,

And the emblem of treachery, whose ribs are bent

shows purity yet delivers deadly blows.

Over a heart of deep rancor, its malice apparent.

مُشاكِسٌ خَدِعٌ جمُّ غَوائِلُه

يُبدي الصَفاء وَيُخفي ضربة الهادي

He comes to you feigning goodwill but is bent

Quarrelsome and deceptive, his evils are many;

on corrupting good souls with his wickedness.

He feigns clearness of heart while hiding a fatal blow.

يأتيك بالبَغي في أَهلِ الصَفاء وَلا

يَنفَكُّ يَسعى بإِصلاح لإفساد

He brings you transgression among the people of purity,

And ceases not to seek corruption through the pretense of reform.