لنا شيمةٌ لا ترتضي الغدرَ صاحباً

وآيٌ على الأيامِ لا تقبل الوهْنَا

We have a nature that does not tolerate treachery as a companion,

And a sign to the days that does not accept disgrace.

إِذا ما تخذنا صاحباً لم نُجازِهِ

بسوءٍ وأحسنَّا بأفعالِه الظَنَّا

If we take a companion, we do not repay him

With evil, and we think well of his deeds.

فمن تُنقصُ الأيامُ مِرَّةَ عهدِهِ

فإنَّا على العهدِ القديم كما كُنَّا

Whoever's loyalty the days diminish somewhat,

We remain as we were regarding the old pact.

وما رَبِحتْ في الودِّ صفقةُ كَارهٍ

مجاملةَ الإخوانِ يعتدُّها غبنا

No bargained deal in affection is ever lost

By one who counts the befriending of brothers a loss.

إلامَ التجنِّي والإساءةُ منكمُ

عتبتمْ وأعتَبْنَا وخُنْتُم وما خُنَّا

Why do you blame and do evil to us?

You blamed and we blamed, you betrayed yet we did not.

فإن تُنصِفُونَا في القضيّةِ تشهدوا

بأن الذي جِئناهُ أشبَهُ بالحُسْنَى

If you judge us fairly in the matter you will testify

That what we have brought resembles the best.

فإنْ عُدْتُمُ عُدْنَا وإن تُظهروا الغِنى

عن الودِّ كنَّا عن وِدادكمُ أغنَى

If you return so do we, and if you profess

To have no need for affection, we need your love less.

فقد يُكرَمُ العِلْقُ الرخيصُ وإن غَلا

وزاد غَلاءً يُسْلَ عنه ويُستغنى

For worthless baubles may be honored and though overpriced

Increase in cost, be discarded and done without.