لا عاش من للعَهدِ خان خونا

وبئس وغد لا يصون صونا

No one lives who betrays a covenant treacherously

How wretched is tomorrow that brings no loyalty

جرى أمامي الدَهر فاتبعته

عسى أرى خلافاً وجدته

Time has passed before me and I followed it

That I may see something different, but found it the same

صحبت نذلاً يستدر ودي

وهو مولع بنكث عهدي

I kept company with an ignoble person, trying to gain my affection

While he is inclined to break his vows to me

قد كان يدعو نفسه رب الوفا

والآن في ذكري يهز الكتفا

He used to call himself the epitome of loyalty

And now when I am mentioned, he shrugs his shoulders

أظهرَ لي الود ليجني زهري

ومذ تولاه لوى بالظهر

He showed me affection in order to reap my fruits

But when he gained power, he turned his back

فصار قمحي عنده زؤانا

ودرري أضحت له أدرانا

So my wheat became weeds to him

And my pearls turned to pebbles in his eyes

عن مثل ذا داود عنه نبا

قد أكلوا خبزي وداروا العقبا

About the likes of him, David warned

They ate my bread and turned their heels against me

لا بارك الله لذي الخيانة

ولا رعى من لا له أمانة

May God not bless the treacherous one

Or shepherd those who have no fidelity