لا يُعجِبَنَّكَ صاحِبٌ

لا يُعجِبَنَّكَ صاحِبٌ

حَتّى تَبَيَّنَ ما طِباعُه

حَتّى تَبَيَّنَ ما طِباعُه

Never let a companion impress you

A friend should not delight you

until you discern his character:

Until you understand his nature

ماذا يَضَنُّ بِهِ عَلَي

ماذا يَضَنُّ بِهِ عَلَي

كَ وَما يَجودُ بِهِ اِتِّساعُه

كَ وَما يَجودُ بِهِ اِتِّساعُه

what he withholds from

What does he hoard from you

you, and what his ample means freely give;

And how generous is he in his breadth

أَو ما الَّذي يَقوى عَلَي

أَو ما الَّذي يَقوى عَلَي

هِ وَما يَضيقُ بِهِ ذِراعُه

هِ وَما يَضيقُ بِهِ ذِراعُه

or what he has the strength

Or what is it that he can bear

for, and what his arm cannot bear;

And what straitens his arm

وَإِذا الزَمانُ رَمى صَفا

وَإِذا الزَمانُ رَمى صَفا

تَكَ بِالحَوادِثِ ما دِفاعُه

تَكَ بِالحَوادِثِ ما دِفاعُه

and when time pelts your rock

And when time casts arrows

with calamities, what defense he offers.

At your cheeks with events, what is his defense

فَهُناكَ تَعرِفُ ما اِرتِفا

فَهُناكَ تَعرِفُ ما اِرتِفا

عُ هَوى أَخيكَ وَما اِتِّضاعُه

عُ هَوى أَخيكَ وَما اِتِّضاعُه

Then you will know how high

It is there you recognize

your brother’s affection rises, and how low it sinks.

The height of your brother's love and his humility