لا خَيرَ فيكَ سِوى كَلامٍ طَيِّبٍ

لا خَيرَ فيكَ سِوى كَلامٍ طَيِّبٍ

وَمَواعِدٍ تُدني وَفِعلٍ يُبعِدُ

وَمَواعِدٍ تُدني وَفِعلٍ يُبعِدُ

There is no good in you save pleasant speech,

There is no good in you except kind words,

And promises that draw one near, and conduct that drives one away,

Promises to draw near, and deeds that distance,

وَأُبُوَّةٍ في تَغلِبٍ لَو أَنَّها

وَأُبُوَّةٍ في تَغلِبٍ لَو أَنَّها

لِلكَلبِ كانَ الكَلبُ فيها يَزهَدُ

لِلكَلبِ كانَ الكَلبُ فيها يَزهَدُ

And paternal ancestry in Taghlib—if it were

And a fatherhood that—were it for a dog—

A dog's, the dog would spurn it.

The dog in it would be abstemious.