ربَّ صديق كلغز سيدنا

ربَّ صديق كلغز سيدنا

بخالصِ الودّ ثم ينتقل

بخالصِ الودّ ثم ينتقل

Many a friend is like our master's riddle:

Many a friend is like our master's riddle:

all pure affection—then he changes;

sincere in affection, then he changes.

كدرهم وجهه يشفّ عن النق

كدرهم وجهه يشفّ عن النق

دِ خلاصاً وقلبه زغل

دِ خلاصاً وقلبه زغل

like a dirham whose face reveals the silv—

Like a dirham, his face shows the coinage

—er as pure, while its heart is debased.

to be pure, while his heart is debased.