لَحى اللَهُ مَولى السوءِ لا أَنتَ راغِبٌ

لَحى اللَهُ مَولى السوءِ لا أَنتَ راغِبٌ

إِلَيهِ وَلا رامٍ بِهِ مَن تُحارِبُه

إِلَيهِ وَلا رامٍ بِهِ مَن تُحارِبُه

May God curse the evil ally: you neither turn

May God curse the evil ally: you neither seek

to him nor wield him against the one you fight.

Him nor wield him against the one you fight.

يَمُنُّ وَلا يُعطي وَيَزعُم أَنَّهُ

يَمُنُّ وَلا يُعطي وَيَزعُم أَنَّهُ

كَريمٌ وَتأبى نَفسُهُ وَضَرائِبُه

كَريمٌ وَتأبى نَفسُهُ وَضَرائِبُه

He boasts of favors yet gives nothing, and claims that he

He boasts of favors but gives nothing, and claims that he

is generous—though his own nature and ingrained traits refuse.

Is generous, though his soul and innate traits resist generosity.

فَما قُربُ مَولى السوءِ إِلّا كَبُعدِهِ

فَما قُربُ مَولى السوءِ إِلّا كَبُعدِهِ

بَلِ البُعدُ خَيرٌ مِن عَدوٍّ تُقارِبُهُ

بَلِ البُعدُ خَيرٌ مِن عَدوٍّ تُقارِبُهُ

An evil ally’s nearness is no different from his distance;

So nearness to an evil ally is just like distance from him;

indeed, distance is better than an enemy you keep close.

Rather, distance is better than an enemy you keep close.