وَما خَيرُ مَن لا يَنفَعُ الأَهلَ مالُهُ

وَما خَيرُ مَن لا يَنفَعُ الأَهلَ مالُهُ

فَإِن ماتَ لَم تَحزَن عَلَيهِ أَقارِبُهْ

فَإِن ماتَ لَم تَحزَن عَلَيهِ أَقارِبُهْ

What good is a man whose wealth brings his family no benefit?

And what good is one whose wealth does not benefit his family?

For if he dies, his relatives will not mourn him.

For if he dies, his relatives will not grieve for him.

كَهامٌ عَنِ الأَقصى كَليلٌ لِسانُهُ

كَهامٌ عَنِ الأَقصى كَليلٌ لِسانُهُ

وَفي البَشَرِ الأَدنى حَديدٌ مَخالِبُهْ

وَفي البَشَرِ الأَدنى حَديدٌ مَخالِبُهْ

Against a distant foe, all they have in him is a dull tongue;

He is ineffectual against those farther away, his tongue blunt;

yet among those nearest him, his claws are iron-sharp.

Yet among those nearest to him, his claws are sharp.