أُصافيI give sincere affection to خَليليmy close friend ماas long as اِستَقامَhe remains steadfast بِوُدِّهِin his affection
أُصافي خَليلي ما اِستَقامَ بِوُدِّهِ
وَأَمنَحُهُand I grant him وُدّيmy affection إِذاwhen يَتَجَنَّبُhe keeps his distance
وَأَمنَحُهُ وُدّي إِذا يَتَجَنَّبُ
I give my close friend sincere affection as long as he remains steadfast in his love,
and grant him my affection when he keeps his distance.
وَلَستُand I am not بِباديone to initiate صاحِبيmy companion بِقَطيعَةٍwith a severing of ties
وَلَستُ بِبادي صاحِبي بِقَطيعَةٍ
وَلَستُand I am not بِمُفشٍone who divulges سِرَّهُhis secret حينَwhen يَغضَبُhe grows angry
وَلَستُ بِمُفشٍ سِرَّهُ حينَ يَغضَبُ
Nor am I the first to break ties with my companion,
nor do I disclose his secret when he grows angry.
عَلَيكَhold fast بِإِخوانِto brothers الثِقاتِthe trustworthy فَإِنَّهُمfor they are
عَلَيكَ بِإِخوانِ الثِقاتِ فَإِنَّهُم
قَليلٌfew فَصِلهُمso maintain ties with them دونَrather than مَنthose whom كُنتَyou used to تَصحَبُkeep company with
قَليلٌ فَصِلهُم دونَ مَن كُنتَ تَصحَبُ
Hold fast to trustworthy brothers, for they are
few; so maintain ties with them rather than those you used to accompany.
وَماand ... is not الخِدنُthe close friend إِلّاexcept مَنone who صَفاis pure لَكَfor you وُدُّهُhis affection
وَما الخِدنُ إِلّا مَن صَفا لَكَ وُدُّهُ
وَمَنand one who هُوَhe is ذوpossessed of نُصحٍsincere goodwill وَأَنتَwhile you are مُغَيَّبُabsent
وَمَن هُوَ ذو نُصحٍ وَأَنتَ مُغَيَّبُ
And a close friend is only one whose affection for you is pure,
and who bears you sincere goodwill while you are absent.
Translation model: Sol 6.1