ما في زَمانك مَن تَرجو مَودّتُهُ

ما في زَمانك مَن تَرجو مَودّتُهُ

إَلا كَريمٌ لِأَبناءِ الكِرامِ صَفا

إَلا كَريمٌ لِأَبناءِ الكِرامِ صَفا

There is none in your time whose affection you can hope for

There is none in your time whose affection you hope for

Except a noble man, sincere toward the sons of the noble.

Except the generous to the sons of the generous purely

فَما أَخو اللُؤم لِلحُرِّ الكَريمِ أَخٌ

فَما أَخو اللُؤم لِلحُرِّ الكَريمِ أَخٌ

وَلا صَديقٌ إِذا خانَ الزَّمانَ وَفى

وَلا صَديقٌ إِذا خانَ الزَّمانَ وَفى

For a man of baseness is no brother to a freeborn, noble man,

So the brother of villains is no brother to the free nobleman

Nor a friend who keeps faith when fortune betrays.

Nor a friend if the era betrays and fulfils

فَعِشْ فَريداً وَلا تَركن إِلى أَحَدٍ

فَعِشْ فَريداً وَلا تَركن إِلى أَحَدٍ

يجزيكَ مِن ثِقَةٍ أَسلَفتَها لَهَفا

يجزيكَ مِن ثِقَةٍ أَسلَفتَها لَهَفا

So live alone, and rely on no one

Live alone and do not rely on anyone

Who repays you with anguish for the trust you extended.

Who rewards you for a trust you advanced to him eagerly

أَو لا فَكُن أَبَداً مِنهُ عَلى حَذَرٍ

أَو لا فَكُن أَبَداً مِنهُ عَلى حَذَرٍ

وَقَد نَصَحتُكَ فيما قُلتُهُ وَكَفى

وَقَد نَصَحتُكَ فيما قُلتُهُ وَكَفى

Or, if not, always be on your guard against him.

Or do not ever be wary of him

And I have advised you in what I have said, and that suffices.

When I have advised you in what I have said and enough