كلٍ يعوّد لاصل جدّه ومرباه

راعي الشرف يشرف والانذال يهبون

Everyone is accustomed to the origin and upbringing of their ancestors

The keeper of honor brings honor, while the despicable fall

الفْرع من عوده شرابه ومسقاه

والحنظلة مرّه ولو تشرب مزون

The branch drinks and is watered from its wood

And the bitter aloe is bitter even if it drinks from urns

الطّيب كايد والمناعير تقواه

والهون هيّن تدنع النفس وتهون

Goodness is lasting, while vices lose their strength

And the despised is despicable, the soul becomes base and defective

ناسٍ على كسب المراجل مضرّاه

وناسٍ على كسب الفشيلة يضرّون

Some people's livelihood depends on sailing ships

While others' depends on emptying chamber pots

هذا على وضح النقا كل ممشاه

وهذا الى شافوه ربعه يصدون

This one walks openly on the straight path

While that one blocks the quarter where his beloved lives

لا تامن الخوّان لو زخرف حكاه

من خان بك مرّه يبي باكر يخون

Do not trust friends even if their talk is adorned

Whoever betrayed you once, will early betray again

وافطن ترى زول الرّجاجيل توّاه

كم واحدٍ يعجبك زوله وهو دون

And be aware, the man of many words can be lacking

How many appear good to you, yet they fall short

يا طيّب الشارات من يوم منشاه

احذر عدوّك لايغدرك على هون

O good traits, since the day you came into being

Beware your enemy, lest he betray you when you are unwary

ترى عدوك غايته فيك ومناه

يزرع بصدرك من قنا رمحه طعون

For your enemy's goal is you and your demise

He plants in your heart the spears of his stabs

والّلي رضع لبوة عدوّك توقّاه

الجرو ولد اللبوة الّلي تعرفون

And whoever suckled at the teat of your enemy, desiring it

The whelp is the cub of the she-wolf you know

للطّير يالصقّار بالرّيش مغواه

الجاهل الّلي باكثر الريش مفتون

For the bird, the falcon, its deception is in its feathers

The ignorant one who is impressed by abundant plumage

للحُر والشبوط ماكر ومجناه

والفرق بالافعال لو هُم يطيرون

For the free and the dogs there is cunning and strategy

And the difference is in the deeds, even if they both fly