إِذا خافَكَ القَومُ اللِئامُ وَجَدتَهُم

سَراعاً إِلى ما تَشتَهي وَتُريدُ

If the base people fear you, you'll find them

Rushing to do all you desire and want.

وَإِن أَمِنوا شَرَّ اِمرِئٍ نَصَبوا لَهُ

عَداواتِهِم إِمّا رَأَوهُ يَحيدُ

And if they feel safe from a man's evil,

They set their hatred against him, once they see him deviate.

فَداوِهِمُ بِالشَرِّ حَتّى تُذِلَّهُم

وَأَنتَ إِذا ما رُمتَ ذاكَ حَميدُ

So counter their evil with evil, until you humiliate them.

While you, when you aim to do that, are praiseworthy.

وَهُم إِن أَصابوا مِنكَ في ذاكَ غَفلَةً

أَتاكَ وَعيدٌ مِنهُمُ وَوَعيدُ

And if in that they find you inattentive,

Threats will come at you from them, and threats.

فَلا تَخشَهُم وَاِخشُن عَلَيهِم فَإِنَّهُم

إِذا أَمِنوا مِنكَ الصَيالَ أُسودُ

So fear them not, but fear for them, for they -

When they feel safe from your drawing sword - are lions.