وَصاحِبٍ أَخلَفَ ظَنّي بِهِ

وَالخَيرُ بِالصاحِبِ مَظنونُ

A friend who betrayed my trust in him

Many a companion has disappointed my expectations,

While goodness is expected of a friend

Though goodness is always presumed in a friend.

جامَلَني بِالقَولِ حَتّى إِذا

صارَ لَهُ مالٌ وَتَمكينُ

He flattered me with words until

He flattered me with fair words right until

He became wealthy and powerful

He acquired wealth and positions of power.

أَعرَضَ عَنّي لاوِياً شِدقَهُ

كَأَنَّهُ في الوَفرِ قارونُ

Then he turned away from me, aloof

Then he shunned me, twisting his cheek in disdain,

As if in his riches he was Qarun

As if, in his abundance, he were Qarun himself.

أَنكَرتُها مِنهُ فَعاتَبتُهُ

وَالنُصحُ في الإِخوانِ مَضمونُ

I was shocked by this from him so I reproached him

I deplored this in him, so I offered him reproach,

For advice amongst brothers is a duty

For sincere counsel is a duty assured among brothers.

فَتاهَ إِذ عاتَبتُهُ شامِخاً

وَأَصلُهُ في أَهلِهِ دونُ

But he scorned me when I reproached him

But he grew haughty when I admonished him, acting supreme,

Though his origin is lowly amongst his people

Though his origin among his own people is base.