أُصَافِي خَلِيلِي مَا صَفَا لِي فَإِنْ جَفَا

عَتَبْتُ عَلَيْهِ غَيْرَ جَافٍ وَلا وَعْرِ

My intimate friend did not treat me with kindness, so if he was cold

I reproached him, neither harsh nor rude.

فَإِنْ عَادَ لِي بالْوُدِّ عُدْتُ وَإِنْ أَبَى

صَبَرْتُ لأَرْعَى ذِمَّةَ الْوُدِّ بِالصَّبْرِ

If he returns to me with affection, I too shall return. If he refuses,

I shall be patient, to preserve the bond of love with patience.

فَإِنْ زَادَنِي هَجْرَاً ضَرَبْتُ عَنِ اسْمِهِ

وَأَمْسَكْتُ عَنْ سُخْطِي عَلَيْهِ وَعَنْ شُكْرِي

If he increases his estrangement, I shall disregard his name

And restrain my anger at him and my gratitude to him.

وَمَا تِلْكَ مِنِّي نَبْوَةٌ غَيْرَ أَنَّنِي

أُنَزِّهُ نَفْسِي عَنْ مُلابَسَةِ الغَدْرِ

This is no prophecy in me, only that

I protect myself from involving with betrayal.