لَعَمرُكَ ما أَدري وَإِنّي لأَوجَلُ

عَلى أَيِّنا تَغدو المَنِيَةِ أَوَّلُ

By your life, I know not which of us

Death will take first, though I'm hesitant

وَإِنّي أَخوكَ الدائَمُ العَهدِ لَم أَحُلُ

إِن اِبزاكَ خَصمٌ أَو نَبابِكَ مَنزِلُ

I'm your brother, true to my word, I've not

Betrayed, though some speak against where you dwell

أُحارِبُ مَن حارَبتَ مِن ذي عَداوَةٍ

وَأِحبِسُ مالي إِن غَرِمتَ فأَعقِلُ

I'll fight those you've fought, enemies of old

And pay your debts should you owe and rebel

وَإِن سُؤتَني يَوماً صَفَحتُ اِلى غَدٍ

لِيُعقِبَ يَومٌ مِنكَ آخِرُ مُقبِلُ

If one day you wrong me, I'll let it pass

So another may come, good tidings to tell

كَأَنَّكَ تَشفي مِنكَ داءً مَساءَتي

وَسُخطي وَما في رَيبَتي ما تَعَجَّلُ

It's as if you heal wounds of doubt I bear

Easing my rage, impatience as well

لَحى اللَهُ مَن ساوى أَخاهُ بِعِرسِهِ

وَخَدَّعَهُ حاشاكَ إِن كُنتَ تَفعَلُ

May God shame those who compare a brother

To a wife, deceiving though you'd never

وَإِنّي عَلى أِشياءَ مِنكَ تريبُني

قَديماً لَذو صَفحٍ عَلى ذاكَ مُجمِلُ

Though you give me reason for doubt, I am

One who forgives past wrongs, nothing to dwell

سَتَقطَعُ في الدُنيا إِذا ما قَطَعتَني

يَمينكَ فَاِنظُر أَيَّ كَفٍّ تَبَدَّلُ

When parted in life, your hand will be severed

See which palm is changed, which continues to swell

إِذا أَنتَ لَم تُنصِف أَخاكَ وَجَدتَهُ

عَلى طَرَفِ الهِجرانِ إِن كانَ يَعقِلُ

If you don't treat your brother with justice

You'll find him estranged, if he is wise and well

وَيَركَبُ حَدَّ السَيفِ مِن أَن تَضيمَهُ

إِذا لَم يَكُن عَن شَفرَةِ السَيفِ مَزحَلُ

He will take up the sword, rather than suffer

Harm from its blade, if he knows how to repel

وَكُنتُ إِذا ما صاحِبي رامَ ظِنّتي

وَبَدَّلَ سُوءاً بِالَّذي كُنتُ أَفعَلُ

When my friend thought ill of me, and acted

Not as I had, I turned my back, to dispel

قَلَبتُ لَهُ ظَهرَ المِجَنِّ وَلَم أَدُم

عَلى ذاكَ إِلّا رَيثَ ما أَتَحَوَّل

Attachment. For time brings change, and men's hearts

Stray from old homes. Don't rage, all will be well

وَفي الناسِ إِن رَثَّت حِبالُكَ واصِلٌ

وَفي الأَرضِ عَن دارِ القِلى مُتَحَوَّلُ

A camel lent may return lame, another

Take its place. Such is the way of life's tells

فَلا تَغضَبنَ قَد تُستَعارُ ظَعينَةٌ

وَتُرسِلُ أُخرى كُلَ ذَلِكَ يَفعَلُ

When my soul abandons a thing, it will not

Turn back again, though time cycles and swells

إِذا اِنصَرَفَت نَفسي عَن الشَيءِ لَم تَكَد

عَلَيهِ بِوَجهٍ آخِرَ الدَهرِ تُقبِلُ