إِذا كُنتَ في سَعدٍ وَأُمُّكَ مِنهُمُ

غَريباً فَلا يَغرُركَ خالَكَ مِن سَعدِ

If you are among Saʿd, your mother one of them—

a stranger—do not be deluded by your maternal uncle of Saʿd.

فَإِنَّ اِبنَ أُختِ القَومِ مُصغىً إِناؤُهُ

إِذا لَم يُزاحِم خالَهُ بِأَبٍ جَلدِ

For a people’s sister’s son has his bowl tipped aside,

unless he can vie with his maternal uncle, backed by a stalwart father.