تسامىrose high إلىto أنthat طاولrivaled in height النجمthe stars رفعةin eminence
تسامى إلى أن طاول النجم رفعة
وand قدindeed تركleft الحسادthe envious للغيظto fury وand النارِfire
و قد ترك الحساد للغيظ و النارِ
He rose until he rivaled the stars in eminence,
He rose up until he reached the stars in height
And left the envious to fury and fire.
Leaving the envious burning with rage
وand ماnot ذاكthat إلاexcept أنهthat he ملَكpossessed التقىpiety
و ما ذاك إلا أنه ملَك التقى
وand جنّبkept away رجليهhis two feet الطريقthe path إلىto العارdisgrace
و جنّب رجليه الطريق إلى العار
And that is only because he made piety his own,
For he is a man of piety
And kept his feet from the path to disgrace.
Who kept his feet off the path of disgrace
وand أمسكrefrained عنfrom قيلhearsay وand قالٍidle talk وand لمdid not يزلcease to be
و أمسك عن قيل و قالٍ و لم يزل
صديقاa friend بقلبwith a heart لاnot يبوحspeaks openly بأسرارof secrets
صديقا بقلب لا يبوح بأسرار
And he refrained from gossip and has always remained
He held back from gossip and tale-telling
A friend whose heart divulges no secrets.
A true friend, whose heart reveals no secrets
نظيفclean يدhand فيin فيهhis mouth تسكنdwells عفةdecency
نظيف يد في فيه تسكن عفة
وand ماnot فتئتceased تسموsoars بهwith him سمعةreputation الدارof the household
و ما فتئت تسمو به سمعة الدار
Clean of hand, with decency dwelling in his mouth,
Clean hands, in which chastity resides
And his household's good name keeps lifting him higher.
And which raised the reputation of his household
يقولhe speaks فلاand so no أذنear تراهاyou see it تمجهrejects him
يقول فلا أذن تراها تمجه
وand يسمعhe listens منكfrom you القولthe words وهْوَwhile he is بهof it داريaware
و يسمع منك القول وهْوَ به داري
He speaks, and you find no ear that rejects him,
He speaks, no ear finds fault with him
And he listens to your words, knowing them well.
You hear good words from him, and he hears you
صديقa friend كبارelders وand الصغارthe young يحبهمhe loves them
صديق كبار و الصغار يحبهم
فلمand so he was not يُحْظَfavored بينamong الناسpeople إلاexcept بإكبارwith great esteem
فلم يُحْظَ بين الناس إلا بإكبار
A friend to elders, he loves the young,
A friend of elders and youth alike
And so he has met with nothing among people but esteem.
Garnering nothing but great respect among people