صَديقٌ لي سَأَذكُرُهُ بِخَيرٍ

صَديقٌ لي سَأَذكُرُهُ بِخَيرٍ

وَأَعرِفُ كُنهَ باطِنِهِ الخَبيثا

وَأَعرِفُ كُنهَ باطِنِهِ الخَبيثا

A friend of mine—I shall speak well of him,

A friend of mine, I shall remember him with goodness

And I know the true nature of his vile inner self.

And know the essence of his wicked inner self

وَحاشا السامِعينَ يُقالُ عَنهُ

وَحاشا السامِعينَ يُقالُ عَنهُ

وَبِاللَهِ اِكتُموا ذاكَ الحَديثا

وَبِاللَهِ اِكتُموا ذاكَ الحَديثا

And—with due respect to the listeners—it is said of him...

Far be it from listeners to say of him

And, by God, keep that tale secret.

By Allah, conceal that talk