صافbefriend sincerely الكريمthe noble person فخيرfor the best منthose whom صافيتهyou sincerely befriended him
صاف الكريم فخير من صافيته
منone who كانwas ذاpossessed of حسبhonorable standing وكانand was ظريفاrefined
من كان ذا حسب وكان ظريفا
Befriend the noble, for the best of those you befriend
The generous whose condition declined,
Is one of honorable standing and refined manners.
His actions remain gracious though confined.
إنindeed الكريمthe noble person وإنand even if تضعضعdeteriorated حالهhis circumstances
إن الكريم وإن تضعضع حاله
فالفعلso the conduct منهfrom him لاdoes not يزالcease to be لطيفاgracious
فالفعل منه لا يزال لطيفا
Indeed, the noble person, even if his fortunes decline,
Beware the company of the wicked one,
Still acts with grace.
Who vices exposes and virtues shuns.
واحذرand beware مجالسةkeeping company with اللئيمthe base person فإنهfor he
واحذر مجالسة اللئيم فإنه
يبديreveals القبيحwhat is vile ويكتمand conceals المعروفاwhat is good
يبدي القبيح ويكتم المعروفا
And beware keeping company with the base person, for he
People are like coins of varied worth,
Reveals what is vile and conceals what is good.
Among them silver, alloy and base earth.
والناسand people مثلlike دراهمdirhams ميزتهاI sorted them
والناس مثل دراهم ميزتها
فوجدتand I found فيهاamong them فضّةsilver وزيوفاand counterfeits
فوجدت فيها فضّة وزيوفا
And people are like dirhams that I sorted:
Among them I found silver and counterfeits.
Partial English translation: 6 of 8 Arabic lines translated.