تَكَثَّر مِنَ الإِخوانِ ما اِسطَعتَ إِنَّهُم

تَكَثَّر مِنَ الإِخوانِ ما اِسطَعتَ إِنَّهُم

عِمادٌ إِذا اِستَنجَدتَهُم وَظُهورُ

عِمادٌ إِذا اِستَنجَدتَهُم وَظُهورُ

Make as many friends as you can, for they

Brothers abound when fortune smiles on you, pillars of support should you need their help. But fair-weather friends are no match for a single foe when fortunes change and trials begin.

are a mainstay when you seek their help, and backs to lean on.

فَما بِكَثير أَلفُ خِلٍّ وَصاحِب

فَما بِكَثير أَلفُ خِلٍّ وَصاحِب

وَإِنَّ عَدُوّاً واحِداً لَكَثيرُ

وَإِنَّ عَدُوّاً واحِداً لَكَثيرُ

For a thousand close friends and companions are not too many,

and indeed, a single enemy is too many.