خَليلَيَّ مِن كَلبٍ أَعينا أَخاكُما

خَليلَيَّ مِن كَلبٍ أَعينا أَخاكُما

عَلى دَهرِهِ إِنَّ الكَريمَ مُعينُ

عَلى دَهرِهِ إِنَّ الكَريمَ مُعينُ

My two friends of Kalb, help your brother

My two friends, beware of a dog with evil eyes

Against his fortune, for the generous man lends aid.

In his time, the generous one is a helper

وَلا تَبخَلا بُخلَ اِبنَ قَزعَةَ إِنَّهُ

وَلا تَبخَلا بُخلَ اِبنَ قَزعَةَ إِنَّهُ

مَخافَةَ أَن يُرجي نَداهُ حَزينُ

مَخافَةَ أَن يُرجي نَداهُ حَزينُ

And do not be miserly like Ibn Qazʿah, for he

Do not be stingy with the stinginess of the son of Qaza'a

Is distressed for fear that anyone might hope for his bounty.

For fear that the wretched will hope for his help

إِذا جِئتَهُ في حاجَةٍ سَدَّ بابَهُ

إِذا جِئتَهُ في حاجَةٍ سَدَّ بابَهُ

فَلَم تَلقَهُ إِلّا وَأَنتَ كَمينُ

فَلَم تَلقَهُ إِلّا وَأَنتَ كَمينُ

When you come to him in need, he bars his door;

When you come to him in need, he closes his door

So you meet him only when you lie in wait.

So you will not find him unless you are hiding

فَقُل لِأَبي يَحيى مَتى تُدرِكُ العُلا

فَقُل لِأَبي يَحيى مَتى تُدرِكُ العُلا

وَفي كُلِّ مَعروفٍ عَلَيكَ يَمينُ

وَفي كُلِّ مَعروفٍ عَلَيكَ يَمينُ

So say to Abu Yahya: when will you attain glory,

Say to Abu Yahya, when will you attain the highs?

While an oath binds you against every act of kindness?

And on every good deed, you have sworn an oath