إِذا ما عَمَمتَ الناسَ بِالأُنسِ لَم تَزَل

إِذا ما عَمَمتَ الناسَ بِالأُنسِ لَم تَزَل

لِصاحِبِ سوءٍ مُستَفيداً وَكاسِبا

لِصاحِبِ سوءٍ مُستَفيداً وَكاسِبا

If you extend your friendliness to everyone, you will always

If you treat people with affection, you will always

be acquiring and gaining a bad companion.

Benefit the wicked and gain their approval.

فَإِن تُقصِهِم يَرموكَ عَن سَهمِ بُغضَة

فَإِن تُقصِهِم يَرموكَ عَن سَهمِ بُغضَة

فَكُن خَلِطاً أَن شِئتَ أَو كُن مُجانِبا

فَكُن خَلِطاً أَن شِئتَ أَو كُن مُجانِبا

For if you keep them away, they will shoot at you with an arrow of hatred.

If you shun them, they will pelt you with arrows of hatred.

So be sociable if you wish, or keep apart.

So mix with them or avoid them as you wish,

فَلا تَدنُوَنْ مِنهُم وَلا تُقصِيَنَّهُم

فَلا تَدنُوَنْ مِنهُم وَلا تُقصِيَنَّهُم

وَلَكِنَّ أَمراً بَينَ ذاك مُقارِبا

وَلَكِنَّ أَمراً بَينَ ذاك مُقارِبا

So do not draw close to them, nor drive them away,

But do not get too close or keep too far away-

but choose a moderate course between the two.

Rather, take the middle course between the two.