ما كُلُّ مَن حَسُنَت في الناسِ سُمعَتُهُ

ما كُلُّ مَن حَسُنَت في الناسِ سُمعَتُهُ

وَحازَ قَلباً ذَكيّاً أَدرَكَ الأَمَلا

وَحازَ قَلباً ذَكيّاً أَدرَكَ الأَمَلا

Not everyone whose reputation among people is good

Not everyone whose reputation amongst people is good

and who possesses a keen heart attains his hope.

And who possesses an intelligent heart can attain hope

ما السَمعُ وَالقَلبُ مُدنٍ مِنكَ مَنقَبَةً

ما السَمعُ وَالقَلبُ مُدنٍ مِنكَ مَنقَبَةً

إِن لَم يَكُن مِثلُ ذا بَأساً وَذاكَ عُلا

إِن لَم يَكُن مِثلُ ذا بَأساً وَذاكَ عُلا

Hearing and heart bring you no distinction

Reputation and the heart are not inherent virtues in you

unless there is one like this in valor and that in eminence.

Unless you have valor like this and excellence like that