كُل وَاِشرَبِ الناسَ عَلى خِبرَةٍ

كُل وَاِشرَبِ الناسَ عَلى خِبرَةٍ

فَهُم يَمُرّونَ وَلا يَعذُبون

فَهُم يَمُرّونَ وَلا يَعذُبون

Eat and drink of people—but only with experience:

Eat and drink people with discernment,

For they are bitter, and never sweet.

for they are bitter, not sweet.

وَلا تُصَدِّقهُم إِذا حَدَّثوا

وَلا تُصَدِّقهُم إِذا حَدَّثوا

فَإِنَّني أَعهَدُهُم يَكذِبون

فَإِنَّني أَعهَدُهُم يَكذِبون

Do not believe them when they speak,

And do not believe them when they speak,

For I have known them to lie.

for I have known them to lie.

وَإِن أَرَوكَ الوُدَّ عَن حاجَةٍ

وَإِن أَرَوكَ الوُدَّ عَن حاجَةٍ

فَفي حِبالٍ لَهُم يَجذِبون

فَفي حِبالٍ لَهُم يَجذِبون

And if they show you affection out of need,

And if they show you affection out of need,

Then into their ropes they are drawing you.

then they draw you into their snares.