خفfear الناسpeople واحذرهمand beware of them فأكثرfor most منof those whom ترىyou see
خف الناس واحذرهم فأكثر من ترى
شكاcomplained of الجورinjustice منfrom قربىcloseness to خليطan associate وصاحبand a companion
شكا الجور من قربى خليط وصاحب
Fear people and beware of them, for most of those you see
Be wary of people and be on your guard, for most of those you see
Have complained of injustice from closeness to an associate and a companion.
Complain of injustice from being close to me, a fickle friend
يودّكhe loves you طوعاwillingly سامعاlistening ماas long as أطعنهُunclear; likely 'you obey him'
يودّك طوعا سامعا ما أطعنهُ
وماand as long as زدتهyou give him more منof معجباتdelightful المواهبgifts
وما زدته من معجبات المواهب
He loves you willingly and listens, so long as you obey him,
He wants you willingly, listening, not disobeying him
And so long as you give him more delightful gifts.
And I have not increased his admiration for talents
فإنbut if هجمَتassailed يوماone day عليكupon you شديدةa severe hardship
فإن هجمَت يوما عليك شديدة
منfrom الدهرTime أوor دامتpersisted كرورrecurrence النوائبcalamities
من الدهر أو دامت كرور النوائب
But if one day a severe hardship assails you
So if one day a severe attack comes upon you
From Time, or calamities keep returning,
From fate or the passing of misfortunes continues
غداhe becomes ناظراًgazing عنfrom جفنthe lid عينan eye كليلةweary
غدا ناظراً عن جفن عين كليلة
يربصhe lies in wait هجراناabandonment وكشفand exposure المعايبfaults
يربص هجرانا وكشف المعايب
He turns to gaze from beneath the lid of a weary eye,
Tomorrow, looking with a sleepy eye
Biding his time to abandon you and expose your faults.
Waiting for separation and exposing flaws
ويظهرand he reveals حرباwar بعدafter سلمpeace وألفةand affection
ويظهر حربا بعد سلم وألفة
فخفهso fear him وكنand be طباskilled بحلat dismantling المضاربthe tents
فخفه وكن طبا بحل المضارب
And reveals war after peace and affection;
And showing war after peace and friendship
So fear him, and be skilled at taking down the tents.
So be wary of him and be good in resolving contentions
دليلكyour guide أنthat لاno خيرgood فيin قربcloseness to صاحبa companion
دليلك أن لا خير في قرب صاحب
علىunder كلevery حالcircumstance منamong مقيمone present وغائبand one absent
على كل حال من مقيم وغائب
Your guide is this: no good lies in closeness to a companion,
Proof that there is no good in being close to a friend
In any circumstance, whether present or absent.
In every situation, whether staying or leaving
تخالفdiffer أطباعtemperaments البريةhumankind فيin الهوىdesire
تخالف أطباع البرية في الهوى
فماso what خيرgood ضدan opponent فيin هواكyour desire وعائبand a faultfinder
فما خير ضد في هواك وعائب
Human temperaments differ in desire;
You oppose the natures of innocence in passion
So what good is one who opposes your desires and finds fault?
So there is no good in an opponent for your love and flaws
يعقّكhe is disloyal to you فيin ماwhat تشتهيهyou desire it وينثنيand turns back
يعقّك في ما تشتهيه وينثني
يطالبhe demands بالطاعاتfor acts of obedience فيin غيرwhat is not واجبobligatory
يطالب بالطاعات في غير واجب
He fails you in what you desire, then turns
He frustrates you from what you desire and folds back
To demand obedience where none is due.
Demanding obedience in other than an obligation
وهذاand this فسادthe ruin العيشlife فاصبرso be patient ولاand do not تردdesire
وهذا فساد العيش فاصبر ولا ترد
خليطاa close associate ففيfor in التخليطmingling جورinjustice العواقبthe outcomes
خليطا ففي التخليط جور العواقب
And this is life's ruin; be patient, and do not seek
And this is the corruption of life, so be patient and do not refuse
A close associate, for mingling brings unjust outcomes.
A fickle one, for in fickleness is the injustice of consequences
Sol 6.1