وَأَكثِرAnd have many مِنَof الإِخوانِfriends ماas much as اِسطَعتَyou can إِنَهُمُfor they are
وَأَكثِر مِنَ الإِخوانِ ما اِسطَعتَ إِنَهُمُ
بُطونٌbellies; fronts إِذاwhen اِستَنجَدتَهُمyou call on them for help وَظُهورُand backs
بُطونٌ إِذا اِستَنجَدتَهُم وَظُهورُ
And make as many friends as you can, for they are
Beware of too many brothers when fortune smiles on you,
fronts and backs when you call on them for help.
For they are bellies when you seek aid, but only backs.
وَلَيسَAnd are not كَثيرٌtoo many أَلفُa thousand خِلٍّa close friend لِعاقِلٍfor a wise person
وَلَيسَ كَثيرٌ أَلفُ خِلٍّ لِعاقِلٍ
وَإِنَّAnd indeed عَدوّاًan enemy واحِداًsingle لَكَثيرُindeed too many
وَإِنَّ عَدوّاً واحِداً لَكَثيرُ
And a thousand close friends are not too many for a wise person,
A wise man finds few loyal friends.
yet a single enemy is indeed too many.
One enemy is often too many.
Sol 6.1