عَلَيكَ بِكُلِّ ذي حَسَبٍ وَدينٍ

عَلَيكَ بِكُلِّ ذي حَسَبٍ وَدينٍ

فَإِنَّهُمُ هُمُ أَهلُ الوَفاءِ

فَإِنَّهُمُ هُمُ أَهلُ الوَفاءِ

Hold fast to everyone of noble lineage and faith,

Associate with the noble of lineage and faith,

For they are the ones who keep faith.

For they are the people of loyalty.

وَإِن خُيِّرتَ بَينَهُمُ فإلصَق

وَإِن خُيِّرتَ بَينَهُمُ فإلصَق

بِأَهلِ العَقلِ مِنهُمُ وَالحَياءِ

بِأَهلِ العَقلِ مِنهُمُ وَالحَياءِ

And if you are given a choice among them, cling

And if you are given a choice between them,

To those among them endowed with reason and modesty.

Then stick to the people of wisdom and modesty among them.

فَإِنَّ العَقلَ لَيسَ لَهُ إِذا ما

فَإِنَّ العَقلَ لَيسَ لَهُ إِذا ما

تَفاضَلَتِ الفَضائِلُ مِن كِفاءِ

تَفاضَلَتِ الفَضائِلُ مِن كِفاءِ

For reason has no equal when

For wisdom, when merits are distinguished,

The virtues are compared in merit.

Has no equal.

وَلا تَثِقَنَّ بِالنَمّامِ فيما

وَلا تَثِقَنَّ بِالنَمّامِ فيما

حَباكَ مِنَ النَصيحَةِ في الخَلاءِ

حَباكَ مِنَ النَصيحَةِ في الخَلاءِ

And never trust the tale-bearer in what

And do not trust the slanderer in what

He offers you as counsel in private.

He tells you in secret out of benevolence.

وَأَيقِن أَنَّ ما أُفضِي إِلَيهِ

وَأَيقِن أَنَّ ما أُفضِي إِلَيهِ

مِنَ الأَسرارِ مُنكَشِفُ الغِطاءِ

مِنَ الأَسرارِ مُنكَشِفُ الغِطاءِ

And be certain that whatever is confided to him

And know that what secrets are disclosed to him

Of secrets is stripped of its veil.

Are uncovered and exposed.