تخلّ عنِ الصديق إذا قدرتا

تخلّ عنِ الصديق إذا قدرتا

فرب صداقة أعدتك مقتا

فرب صداقة أعدتك مقتا

Forsake your friend if you can.

Abandon a friend if you are able

For many a friendship has infected you with hatred.

For many a friendship has made you miserable

وسالم من عرفت بلا جدال

وسالم من عرفت بلا جدال

ولا طمع إليه وقد سلمتا

ولا طمع إليه وقد سلمتا

And make peace with whomever you know, without dispute.

And greet whoever you know without contention

And harbor no hope of gain from him—then you are safe.

And no greed toward him once you both make amends

فإن وفقت كن فردا وحيدا

فإن وفقت كن فردا وحيدا

فما عاداك إلا من عرفنا

فما عاداك إلا من عرفنا

So if you are rightly guided, be solitary and alone.

If you succeed, be unique and alone

For no one has been hostile to you but those we have known.

For none will befriend you but those we have known

ورابعةٌ هي الحقّ المهيّا

ورابعةٌ هي الحقّ المهيّا

تخلّ من الفضول وأنت أنتا

تخلّ من الفضول وأنت أنتا

And a fourth counsel is the truth made ready:

And the fourth is the manifest truth

Free yourself of idle meddling, while you remain yourself.

Abandon superfluity and just be yourself