يَقول غَبي لي صَديقٌ ذَخَرتُهُ

يَقول غَبي لي صَديقٌ ذَخَرتُهُ

لِخَطبٍ مُعين لي وَلَو بِمَقالِهِ

لِخَطبٍ مُعين لي وَلَو بِمَقالِهِ

A fool says, “I have a friend whom I have kept in reserve

A fool once said to me, a friend I treasured

for a crisis, to help me, if only with his words.”

As help for my affairs, even with his speech.

وَلَم يَعلم المسكينُ أَنَّ صَديقَهُ

وَلَم يَعلم المسكينُ أَنَّ صَديقَهُ

عَدوٌ مُبينٌ زائِدٌ في نِكالِهِ

عَدوٌ مُبينٌ زائِدٌ في نِكالِهِ

And the poor fellow did not know that his friend

Yet the poor soul did not know his "friend" in truth

was an open enemy, adding to his torment.

Was a clear foe whose harm did far outreach.