من كان مبتذلا في برهة الصغر

من كان مبتذلا في برهة الصغر

مهما تعالى حقير الذات في الكبر

مهما تعالى حقير الذات في الكبر

Whoever was base in the days of childhood,

He who was base when young

However high he rises, remains contemptible in character in adulthood.

Though great when old, his being still is poor,

لا يخدعنك لسان منه منطلق

لا يخدعنك لسان منه منطلق

وافطن فتلك جهارا عادة البقر

وافطن فتلك جهارا عادة البقر

Do not let his fluent tongue deceive you;

Let not his ready tongue deceive, beware

And be discerning, for that is plainly the habit of cattle.

Such openness is but the cattle's law.

وحدق العين فيمن شب مبتذلا

وحدق العين فيمن شب مبتذلا

تراه يجحد بر الله والبشر

تراه يجحد بر الله والبشر

And fix your gaze on one who grew up base;

Gaze well at him who was base when a boy

You will see him deny the kindness of God and humankind.

God and man alike he will deny.