لي صاحِبٌ لا يَجْتَني

لي صاحِبٌ لا يَجْتَني

منه مصاحبُهُ ثَمَرْ

منه مصاحبُهُ ثَمَرْ

I have a companion; his fellow reaps

I have a friend whose company bears me no fruit.

No fruit from him.

I advised him and made excuses for him,

ناصحتُهُ وَحَمَلْتُ عنْهُ

ناصحتُهُ وَحَمَلْتُ عنْهُ

فما أثابَ وَلا شَكَرْ

فما أثابَ وَلا شَكَرْ

I counseled him sincerely and bore his burdens,

Yet he neither rewarded nor thanked me.

But he neither rewarded nor thanked me.

His peers suffer with him always, while one who strays prospers.

يَشْقَى به قُرَنَاؤُهُ

يَشْقَى به قُرَنَاؤُهُ

أبداً ويسعَدُ مَنْ شَطَرْ

أبداً ويسعَدُ مَنْ شَطَرْ

His associates suffer because of him

You see him honor one who keeps away, while he forgets those near.

Always, while whoever goes away prospers.

He is like the sun that makes those close suffer from its heat,

وتراه يُكْرِمُ من نَأَى

وتراه يُكْرِمُ من نَأَى

عنه ويَغْفُلُ مَنْ حَضَرْ

عنه ويَغْفُلُ مَنْ حَضَرْ

You see him honor those who have gone far

While it brings joy to those who view it from afar.

From him, and neglect those who are present.

كالشّمْسِ تَنْحَسُ سادَنَا

كالشّمْسِ تَنْحَسُ سادَنَا

منها وتَسْعَدُ بالنَّظَرْ

منها وتَسْعَدُ بالنَّظَرْ

Like the sun, which brings ill luck to [unclear],

From it, yet brings good fortune through its aspect.