وَنَدْمَانِ أَخِي ثِقَةٍ

وَنَدْمَانِ أَخِي ثِقَةٍ

كَأَنَّ حَدِيْثَهُ حِبَرَهْ

كَأَنَّ حَدِيْثَهُ حِبَرَهْ

Many a boon companion—a trustworthy brother—

whose conversation is like a patterned Yemeni robe;

يَسُرُّكَ حُسْنُ نَاظِرِهِ

يَسُرُّكَ حُسْنُ نَاظِرِهِ

وَتَحْمَدُ مِنْهُ مُخْتَبَرَهْ

وَتَحْمَدُ مِنْهُ مُخْتَبَرَهْ

the beauty of his outward appearance delights you,

and, on testing him, you praise his inner worth.

وَيَسْتُرُ عَيْبَ صَاحِبِهِ

وَيَسْتُرُ عَيْبَ صَاحِبِهِ

وَيَسْتُرُ أَنَّهُ سَتَرَهْ

وَيَسْتُرُ أَنَّهُ سَتَرَهْ

He conceals his companion’s fault,

and conceals that he concealed it.