1. ذُوو اللُبِّ عاشرهم وَقدّم أَسَنَّهُم

    وَأحسن لِمَن قَد أَحسَنوا فيك ظَنَّهم

    Associate with people of sound judgment, and give precedence to their eldest.

    And do good to those who have thought well of you.

  2. فَإِن خفتَ إنس الحاسدين وَجنَّهم

    عَلَيك بِإِخوان الصَفاءِ فَإِنَّهُم

    So if you fear the envious—humans and jinn alike—

    Hold fast to brethren of sincerity, for they are

  3. عَمادٌ إِذا اِستنجدتهم وَظُهورُ

    هُمُ سَلوة المَحروم عَن كُلّ ذاهبٍ

    A pillar when you seek their aid, and backs to lean on.

    They are the bereft one's solace for all that has gone,

  4. وَترياق مَلسوعٍ بسمِّ عَقاربِ

    فرِدهم تنل في الناس أَمنَع جانِبٍ

    And an antidote for one stung by scorpions' venom.

    So seek them out, and among people gain the best-defended flank.

  5. فَإِنَّ قَليلاً ألف خلٍّ وَصاحبِ

    وَإِنّ عَدوّاً واحِداً لَكَثيرُ

    For a thousand close friends and companions are too few,

    And a single enemy is indeed too many.