1. كَم مِن أَخٍ لَكَ لَستَ تُنكِرُهُ

    مادُمتَ مِن دُنياكَ في يُسرِ

    How many a brother you have, no stranger to you

    so long as you live at ease in this world,

  2. مُتَصَنِّعٌ لَكَ في مَوَدَّتِهِ

    يَلقاكَ بِالتَرحيبِ وَالبِشرِ

    feigning affection for you,

    meeting you with welcome and good cheer!

  3. يُطري الوَفاءَ وَذا الوَفاءِ وَيَل

    حى الغَدرَ مُجتَهِداً وَذا الغَدرِ

    He extols loyalty and the loyal, and reproaches

    treachery and the treacherous with zeal.

  4. فَإِذا عَدا وَالدَهرُ ذو غِيَرٍ

    دَهرٌ عَلَيكَ عَدا مَعَ الدَهرِ

    But if you are assailed—and time is full of reversals—

    by time, he assails you along with time.

  5. فَاِرفُض بِإِجمالٍ أُخُوَّةَ مَن

    يَقلى المُقِلَّ وَيَعشَقُ المُثري

    So graciously reject the brotherhood of one

    who loathes the poor and adores the rich.

  6. وَعَلَيكَ مَن حالاهُ واحِدَةٌ

    في اليُسرِ إِمّا كُنتَ وَالعُسرِ

    And hold fast to one who is the same in both states,

    whether you are in ease or hardship.

  7. لا تَخلِطَنَّهُم بِغَبرِهِم

    مَن يَخلُطُ العِقيانَ بِالصُفرِ

    Do not mix them with the others:

    who would mix pure gold with brass?