إِذا رفع الزَمان وَضيع أَصلٍ

إِذا رفع الزَمان وَضيع أَصلٍ

وَأَلبَسَهُ ثِياب الاعتبار

وَأَلبَسَهُ ثِياب الاعتبار

If time raises a man of lowly origin,

When time raises the lowly,

and clothes him in the robes of esteem,

And dresses them in robes of dignity,

فَإِن خان العُهود فَلا تلمه

فَإِن خان العُهود فَلا تلمه

فَما هُوَ مِن رِجال الافتخار

فَما هُوَ مِن رِجال الافتخار

then if he breaks his pledges, do not blame him;

Do not blame those who break their vows -

for he is not among men worthy of pride.

They are no men of honor.

وَسالم مَن أَردت سِواه وَاِنظُر

وَسالم مَن أَردت سِواه وَاِنظُر

إِلَيهِ بِعَين خَفض واحتقار

إِلَيهِ بِعَين خَفض واحتقار

And make peace with whomever you wish except him, and look

Farewell to any you wish other than Him,

upon him with an eye of disdain and contempt.

And look on them with eyes of disdain and contempt.