كم صاحب صاحبته في التقى

كم صاحب صاحبته في التقى

أسكنته مسكن أنفاسي

أسكنته مسكن أنفاسي

Many a companion I befriended in piety,

How many a friend in the past, I made

I lodged him in the dwelling of my breaths.

My bosom friend and companion;

غيّره من بعد ودي له

غيّره من بعد ودي له

وودّه شدّة إفلاسي

وودّه شدّة إفلاسي

He was changed, after my affection for him

After friendship and love between us

and his for me, by the severity of my destitution.

His love to bitter enmity was turned.

لما رأيت الناس قد وكلوا

لما رأيت الناس قد وكلوا

بالمكر والحيلة والباس

بالمكر والحيلة والباس

When I saw that people had been given over

When I found people practicing

to deceit, trickery, and violence,

Deceit, cunning, and false friendship,

جعلت هرّ البيت لي مؤنسا

جعلت هرّ البيت لي مؤنسا

وصاحبا من دون جلاسي

وصاحبا من دون جلاسي

I made the house cat a comfort to me

I made the wild beasts of the desert

and a companion instead of those who sat with me.

My friends, better than human company.

سلمت من أخلاقه دائماً

سلمت من أخلاقه دائماً

وكم تأذيت من الناس

وكم تأذيت من الناس

I was always safe from his ways,

From the morals of beasts, I am safe;

and how often I have been hurt by people!

But alas, from those of men I suffer.