لا يُعجِبَنَّكَ صاحِبٌ

حَتّى تَبَيَّنَ ما طِباعُه

A friend should not delight you

Until you understand his nature

ماذا يَضَنُّ بِهِ عَلَي

كَ وَما يَجودُ بِهِ اِتِّساعُه

What does he hoard from you

And how generous is he in his breadth

أَو ما الَّذي يَقوى عَلَي

هِ وَما يَضيقُ بِهِ ذِراعُه

Or what is it that he can bear

And what straitens his arm

وَإِذا الزَمانُ رَمى صَفا

تَكَ بِالحَوادِثِ ما دِفاعُه

And when time casts arrows

At your cheeks with events, what is his defense

فَهُناكَ تَعرِفُ ما اِرتِفا

عُ هَوى أَخيكَ وَما اِتِّضاعُه

It is there you recognize

The height of your brother's love and his humility