بُعداً لمن شَرُّه أعْمَى يُصيبُ ولا

بُعداً لمن شَرُّه أعْمَى يُصيبُ ولا

يَرى مكان الأعادي مِن ذَوي النَّسَبِ

يَرى مكان الأعادي مِن ذَوي النَّسَبِ

Away with one whose evil is blind: it strikes, yet cannot

Away with him whose evil is blind: it strikes, yet does not

see where the enemies are among his kindred—

see the difference between enemies and kinsmen.

كالنَّارِ تحرقُ طبعاً لا تُمَيِّزُ بَيْ

كالنَّارِ تحرقُ طبعاً لا تُمَيِّزُ بَيْ

نَ المَنْدَل الرَّطْبِ في الإحراقِ والحَطَبِ

نَ المَنْدَل الرَّطْبِ في الإحراقِ والحَطَبِ

like fire, burning by nature, unable to distinguish between

Like fire, which burns by nature and does not distinguish between

damp aloeswood, as it burns, and firewood.

moist aloeswood and firewood in its burning.