الشُهدُ صابٌ عِندَ مَطعَمِ خُلقِهِ

وَالماءُ صَخرٌ عِندَ مَلمَسِ نُطقِهِ

Honey is sharp at the taste of its nature

And water is rock at the touch of its speech

خِلٌّ يَعِزُّ عَلى الخَليلِ لِبِرِّهِ

وَيُجِلُّ في نَفسِ الصَديقِ لِصِدقِهِ

A friend who finds it hard to part with a friend for his virtue

And esteems in his heart a friend for his honesty

إِن أَنتَ لَم تَنفُق عَلَيهِ صَداقَةً

نَفَقَت صَداقَتُهُ عَلَيكَ لِصِدقِهِ

If you have not spent friendship on him

His friendship spent itself upon you for his honesty