خُذ مِن صَديقَكَ مَرأى دونَ مُستَمَعٍ

يا بُعدَ بَينَ عِيانِ المَرءِ وَالخَبَرِ

Take from your friend an opinion without a listener

Oh how far between seeing a man and hearing of him

قَد يورِقُ العودُ يَوماً وَهوَ ذو يَبَسٍ

وَتُقبَسُ النارُ مِن ذي نِعمَةٍ حَصِرِ

The wet wood may one day dry out

And fire can be lit from the most parsimonious flint

كَذِّب عَلَيهِ إِذا أَرضاكَ ظاهِرُهُ

شَهادَةَ الصادِقين السَمعِ وَالبَصَرِ

Lie to him if his outward self pleases you

Beyond the testimony of the truthful's hearing and sight

وَإِن سَمِعتَ فَقُل ما كانَ عَن أُذُنٍ

وَإِن نَظَرتَ فَقُل ما كانَ عَن نَظَرِ

And if you hear, say it was not from an ear

And if you saw, say it was not from sight

إِن كُنتَ لا تَصطَفي إِلّا أَخا ثِقَةٍ

فَاِخلُق لِنَفسِكَ إِخواناً عَلى قَدَرِ

If you only choose brothers of trust

Then create for yourself brothers to your measure