وإَذا أَرَدْتَ تَرى فَضيلَةَ صَاحِبٍ

وإَذا أَرَدْتَ تَرى فَضيلَةَ صَاحِبٍ

فَانْظُرْ بِعَيْنِ البَحْثِ مَنْ نُدْمانُهُ

فَانْظُرْ بِعَيْنِ البَحْثِ مَنْ نُدْمانُهُ

If you wish to see a person's true worth,

And if you wish to see a companion’s virtue,

look with a discerning eye at who his close companions are.

Then look with an inquiring eye at who his boon companions are.

فَالمَرْءُ مَطْويٌّ عَلى عِلاَّتِهِ

فَالمَرْءُ مَطْويٌّ عَلى عِلاَّتِهِ

طَيَّ الكِتابِ وصَحْبُهُ عُنْوَانُهُ

طَيَّ الكِتابِ وصَحْبُهُ عُنْوَانُهُ

For a person is folded shut around his faults,

For a man is folded shut upon his faults,

as a book is folded, and his companions are his title.

As a book is folded, and his companions are his title.