الصِدقُ في أَفواهِهِم عَلقَم

الصِدقُ في أَفواهِهِم عَلقَم

وَالإِفكُ مِثلَ العَسَلِ الماذي

وَالإِفكُ مِثلَ العَسَلِ الماذي

Truth in their mouths is bitter colocynth,

Sincerity in their mouths is bitter

Truth tastes as bitter gall within their mouths,

And falsehood is like pure white honey.

And lies are like exquisite honey

While falsehood is like honey, white and pure.

وَكُلُّهُم في بُخلِهِ صادِقٌ

وَكُلُّهُم في بُخلِهِ صادِقٌ

وَفي النَدى لَيسَ بِأَستاذِ

وَفي النَدى لَيسَ بِأَستاذِ

And each of them is true to his stinginess,

Each being stingy is sincere

In stinginess, they demonstrate their truth,

And in generosity he is no master.

Yet in generosity, no one's a master

But in the art of giving, show no skill.