تعلم بأَنَّ الأصدقاء ثلاثة

تعلم بأَنَّ الأصدقاء ثلاثة

وَما كل من آخيته بصديقِ

وَما كل من آخيته بصديقِ

Know that friends are of three kinds,

Learn that friends are but three,

and not everyone you have taken as a brother is a friend.

Though for each comrade hail with glee.

وأَصفاهم وداً أَخو الطبع منهم

وأَصفاهم وداً أَخو الطبع منهم

وأَثبتهم في وحدة وفريقِ

وأَثبتهم في وحدة وفريقِ

The purest of them in affection is the kindred spirit among them,

Of truest heart and trustiest tie,

and the most steadfast in solitude and company.

Is he who shares our sympathy.

فَذلك موثوق به في أُموره

فَذلك موثوق به في أُموره

وَفي كل ما حالٍ أَعز وثيقِ

وَفي كل ما حالٍ أَعز وثيقِ

That man, then, is trusted in his dealings,

staunchest found o'er all the earth,

and in every circumstance, a most cherished, dependable friend.

In weal or woe, in want or worth.

وأكذبهم وداً أَخو الكأس إِنَّه

وأكذبهم وداً أَخو الكأس إِنَّه

صديق صبوح دائم وغبوقِ

صديق صبوح دائم وغبوقِ

The falsest of them in affection is the companion of the cup; he is

Next comes the friend of Revelry,

a friend of constant morning and evening draughts.

Whose fleeting smiles with wine agree.

وَبينهما المضطر يلتمس الَّتي

وَبينهما المضطر يلتمس الَّتي

جميعهم فيها بكل طَريقِ

جميعهم فيها بكل طَريقِ

And between the two is the one driven by need, seeking what

But firm the friend in time of need,

all of them pursue by every path.

When foods are far and hunger's mead.

فَذاكَ تُدانيه فتدنيه مرةً

فَذاكَ تُدانيه فتدنيه مرةً

وَتَجفوه أُخرى منك فعل رَفيقِ

وَتَجفوه أُخرى منك فعل رَفيقِ

So you approach that one and draw him close at one time,

At times with love he comes to you,

and shun him at another, acting as a gentle companion.

At times estranged, as friends may do.

تُكافيه في الحالاتِ ما كانَ يرتجى

تُكافيه في الحالاتِ ما كانَ يرتجى

وَتحذر منه القرب عند مضيقِ

وَتحذر منه القرب عند مضيقِ

You repay him in each circumstance with what was hoped for,

Requite him as the occasion asks,

and beware of closeness to him when in straits.

But shun when danger hovers round.

وَكلهم في طبعه يحذر الَّتي

وَكلهم في طبعه يحذر الَّتي

تضرّ وَيَرجو النفع كل شروقِ

تضرّ وَيَرجو النفع كل شروقِ

And each of them, by his nature, is wary of what

For native to their blood runs this-

causes harm, and hopes for benefit at every sunrise.

To bask in fair, to fly distress.