قُل لِلَّذي لَست أَدري مِن تَلونه

قُل لِلَّذي لَست أَدري مِن تَلونه

أَناصح أَم علي غش يُداجيني

أَناصح أَم علي غش يُداجيني

Say to the one whose fickleness leaves me unsure

Tell the one whose true colors I cannot discern

whether he is sincere or flatters me deceitfully:

If he is advising me or deceiving me

إِنّي لِاَكثر مِمّا سَمتني عَجباً

إِنّي لِاَكثر مِمّا سَمتني عَجباً

يَد تشح وَاِخرى مِنك تَأسوني

يَد تشح وَاِخرى مِنك تَأسوني

I marvel greatly at what you have put me through:

I am more surprised at you

One hand withholds, while another of yours heals me.

Than what you have named me

تَغتابَني عِندَ اِقوام وَتَمدحني

تَغتابَني عِندَ اِقوام وَتَمدحني

في آخَرينَ وَكل عَنكَ يَأتيني

في آخَرينَ وَكل عَنكَ يَأتيني

You backbite me among some people and praise me

You backbite me among groups

among others, and all that you say reaches me.

And praise me among others

هذان أَمران شَت البون بَينَهُما

هذان أَمران شَت البون بَينَهُما

فَاِكفُف لِسانَك عَن ذمي وَتزيني

فَاِكفُف لِسانَك عَن ذمي وَتزيني

These are two things with a wide gulf between them;

These are two contrasting matters

so hold your tongue from disparaging me and praising me.

So restrain your tongue from blaming or praising me

لَو كُنت اِعرف مِنكَ الودهان لَهُ

لَو كُنت اِعرف مِنكَ الودهان لَهُ

عَلي بَعض الَّذي اِصبَحت توليني

عَلي بَعض الَّذي اِصبَحت توليني

If I knew affection from you, it would make bearable

Had I known your affection

for me some of the treatment you now give me.

I would not have received some of what you have given me

رب اِمرىء أَجنبي عَن مُلاطَفَتي

رب اِمرىء أَجنبي عَن مُلاطَفَتي

مَحض الاخوة في البَلوى يُؤاسيني

مَحض الاخوة في البَلوى يُؤاسيني

Many a man, a stranger to my friendly attentions,

A stranger's love for me is pure fraternity in adversity

comforts me in hardship with pure brotherly love.

It consoles me

وَملحف بِسُؤال عَن مكاشرة

وَملحف بِسُؤال عَن مكاشرة

مَغض عَلى وَغر في الصَدرِ مَكنون

مَغض عَلى وَغر في الصَدرِ مَكنون

And many an insistent questioner, all smiles,

While the intimate pries into my social affairs

keeps quiet about rancor hidden in his breast.

Though a grudge lies latent in his breast

لَيسَ الصَديق بِمَن تَخشى غَوائِلُه

لَيسَ الصَديق بِمَن تَخشى غَوائِلُه

وَلا العَدو عَلى حال بِمَأمون

وَلا العَدو عَلى حال بِمَأمون

A friend is not someone whose treachery you fear,

A friend is not one whose troubles you fear

nor can an enemy ever be trusted.

Nor is an enemy ever trustworthy

أَرضى عَن المَرءِ ما أَصفى مودتَّه

أَرضى عَن المَرءِ ما أَصفى مودتَّه

وَلَيسَ شَيء مَع البَغضاءِ يُرضيني

وَلَيسَ شَيء مَع البَغضاءِ يُرضيني

I am content with a man so long as his affection is sincere,

I am content with one whose affection is sincere

and nothing pleases me in the presence of hatred.

And nothing pleases me with hatred

يا صاح لَو كَرِهت كَفي مُنادَمتي

يا صاح لَو كَرِهت كَفي مُنادَمتي

لَقلت إِذ كَرهت كَفي لَها بِبني

لَقلت إِذ كَرهت كَفي لَها بِبني

O friend, if my hand disliked my company,

Oh companion, if you disliked my company

I would tell it, since my hand disliked me: 'Depart!'

You would have told me straight when you disliked me

لا اِبتَغي وَصل من لا يَبتَغي صِلتي

لا اِبتَغي وَصل من لا يَبتَغي صِلتي

وَلا اِبالي حَبيباً لا يُبالبني

وَلا اِبالي حَبيباً لا يُبالبني

I seek no bond with anyone who seeks no bond with me,

I do not seek connection with one who does not desire my friendship

nor do I care for a loved one who does not care for me.

Nor do I care for a lover who does not care for me