إذا أخفى صديقكَ عنكَ سرّاً

إذا أخفى صديقكَ عنكَ سرّاً

وأبهمَ حالَهُ فسواهُ أولى

وأبهمَ حالَهُ فسواهُ أولى

If your friend conceals a secret from you,

If your friend conceals a secret from you

And obscures his circumstances, others are all the more entitled to do so.

And obscures his state, then treat him kindly

فلا تجزمْ بالاستفهامِ عنهُ

فلا تجزمْ بالاستفهامِ عنهُ

وهبْ أخبارَهُ أخبارَ لولا

وهبْ أخبارَهُ أخبارَ لولا

So do not insist on inquiring about him,

Do not insist on questioning him about it

And treat his news like the omitted predicates of “lawlā” (“were it not for”).

And regard his affairs as if they didn't exist