أَلا لا تَصحَبوا إِلّا لَطيفاً

أَلا لا تَصحَبوا إِلّا لَطيفاً

لِرِقَّةِ طَبعِهِ حلو المَعاني

لِرِقَّةِ طَبعِهِ حلو المَعاني

Take heed: keep company only with a gentle soul,

Do not accompany except a gentle one

sweet in expression through the tenderness of his nature.

Of delicate nature, sweet meanings

تَوقَّوْا بارِداً وَكَذا ثَقيلاً

تَوقَّوْا بارِداً وَكَذا ثَقيلاً

هُما داءانِ قَطعاً قاتِلانِ

هُما داءانِ قَطعاً قاتِلانِ

Avoid a cold companion and likewise a burdensome one;

Avoid a cold one, and so a heavy one

they are two diseases, certainly fatal.

They are illnesses, decidedly deadly