لناwe have صديقٌa friend يغُرُّdeceives الأصدقاءَfriends وماand not
لنا صديقٌ يغُرُّ الأصدقاءَ وما
رأيتَهُI have seen him قَطُّever فيin وُدِّaffection for امرئٍa person صَدَقاbe sincere
رأيتَهُ قَطُّ في وُدِّ امرئٍ صَدَقا
We have a friend who deceives his friends, and never
We have a friend who cheats friends, and never
have I seen him sincere in his affection for anyone.
Have you seen him truly loving anyone
صديقُهhis friend أبداًalways منهof him علىin a state of وَجَلٍfear
صديقُه أبداً منه على وَجَلٍ
كَراكِبِlike a voyager on البحرِthe sea يخشىfears دهرَهُall his days الغَرَقاdrowning
كَراكِبِ البحرِ يخشى دهرَهُ الغَرَقا
His friend is always in fear of him,
His friend is always fearful of him, wary
like a voyager at sea, fearing drowning all his days.
Like sailors fearing the sea will make them drown
لاdo not تقرَبَنْever approach بابَthe gate of سُلطانٍa ruler وإنand even if مَلأتْfilled
لا تقرَبَنْ بابَ سُلطانٍ وإن مَلأتْ
هِباتُهُhis gifts غَيرَnot مَمنونٍheld over someone as a favor بهاon their account الطُّرُقاthe roads
هِباتُهُ غَيرَ مَمنونٍ بها الطُّرُقا
Do not approach a ruler's gate, even if
Do not go near the door of a ruler, even if
his gifts, bestowed without reproach, fill the roads.
His gifts fill the roads overflowing for all
فإنّfor indeed أبوابَهُمtheir gates كالبَحرِlike the sea راكبُهُone who sails it
فإنّ أبوابَهُم كالبَحرِ راكبُهُ
مُرَوَّعُterrified القَلبِat heart يَخشىfears دهرَهall his days الغَرَقاdrowning
مُرَوَّعُ القَلبِ يَخشى دهرَه الغَرَقا
For their gates are like the sea: whoever sails it
For their doors are like the sea for those who ride
is terrified at heart, fearing drowning all his days.
Fearful of heart for their lifetimes might sink
Sol 6.1