لنا صديقٌ كلا صديقٍ

غثٌّ على أنه سَمِينُ

We have a friend, though no true friend is he,

A worthless man who feigns prosperity,

من أقبح الناس لا أُحاشِي

من كان منهم ومن يكونُ

Among the ugliest of men, none can deny,

Of those who are, and those who are to be.

إذا بدا وجهُه لقوم

لاذت بأجفانها العيونُ

When his face is seen by a gathering,

Their eyes take cover beneath their lids.

كأنه عندهم غريمٌ

حلَّتْ عليه لهم ديونُ

As though he were a foe they were cradling,

On him their debts and wrongs they did.

وهو على ما وصفتْ منه

مُتَّهمٌ وُدُّهُ ظنينُ

Yet he, as I described him, still appears

Suspected, his affection insincere.

خانت به أمُّه أباهُ

فعينُه عينُها الخَؤونُ

His mother and father he did betray,

So sadness cloaks his devious eyes.

مُعتزليٌّ مُسِرُّ كُفرٍ

يُبدي ظُهوراً لها بطونُ

A heretic, indulging blasphemy,

Whose inner thoughts belie his courtesy.

أأرِفض الاعتزَال رأياً

كلّا لَهنِّي به ضنينُ

Shall I reject his views, for I disdain

This man, though quietly I contain?

لو صَحَّ عندي له اعتقادٌ

ما دِنتُ ربي بما يدينُ

If I believed him true in his creed,

I would not serve my Lord as He decreed.

يا ابن حُريثٍ أفيكَ بُقيا

فأكتُمُ الناسَ ما أبينُ

O Ibn Hurayth, does life in you still linger?

That I may hide from men what I make clear.