عليكَyou should seek out ذويthose possessing الأقدارstanding فاكسبَso earn ثناءهمtheir praise
عليكَ ذوي الأقدار فاكسبَ ثناءهم
فعرفكfor your kindness فيtoward غيرother than المحقينَthe deserving ضائعُis wasted
فعرفك في غير المحقينَ ضائعُ
Seek out men of standing and earn their praise;
For your kindness is wasted on the undeserving.
وماand not مالthe wealth منof one who أعطىgives to الكرامُthe noble بناقصٍdiminished
وما مال من أعطى الكرامُ بناقصٍ
ولكنّهُbut it عندin the keeping of الكرامِthe noble ودائعُdeposits held in trust
ولكنّهُ عند الكرامِ ودائعُ
And the wealth of one who gives to the noble is not diminished;
Rather, it remains with the noble as deposits held in trust.