مُقارَبَةُ اللَيثِ الهَصورِ وَغَيرِهِ

مُقارَبَةُ اللَيثِ الهَصورِ وَغَيرِهِ

مِنَ الأَفعوانِ الصِلِّ حينَ يُساوِرُهُ

مِنَ الأَفعوانِ الصِلِّ حينَ يُساوِرُهُ

Approaching the crushing lion and another creature besides it—

The lion's den, though fierce, feels safer

Approaching the fierce, crushing lion and his kin,

The deadly male viper, when it springs upon him—

Than a neighbor whose familiar guise

Or the venomous viper at the moment it strikes,

أَحَقُّ وَأَحرى أَن تَبيتَ لَدَيهُما

أَحَقُّ وَأَحرى أَن تَبيتَ لَدَيهُما

عَلى الأَمنِ في لَيلٍ تُخافُ غَوائِرُه

عَلى الأَمنِ في لَيلٍ تُخافُ غَوائِرُه

Is surer and likelier to let you spend the night beside them both

Conceals his well laid traps and snares for you -

Is safer and more worthy for you to sleep beside,

In safety, on a night whose lurking perils are feared,

He'd have your soul through any means or device

Securely, in a night whose calamities are feared,

مِنَ الصَاحِبِ الفَردِ القَريبِ مُعادياً

مِنَ الصَاحِبِ الفَردِ القَريبِ مُعادياً

إِذا كانَ في جيرانِ بَيتٍ تُجاوِرُه

إِذا كانَ في جيرانِ بَيتٍ تُجاوِرُه

Than beside a lone companion, nearby yet hostile,

Than a close, singular companion who acts as a foe,

If he is among the neighbors of a house you live beside,

Living right among the neighbors where you dwell,

وَبُغيَتُهُ إِتلافُ روحِكَ جاهِداً

وَبُغيَتُهُ إِتلافُ روحِكَ جاهِداً

بِكُلِّ سَبيلٍ مُرصَدٍ لَكَ عابِرُه

بِكُلِّ سَبيلٍ مُرصَدٍ لَكَ عابِرُه

And his aim is to destroy your life, striving

Whose goal is to destroy your life, striving earnestly,

Along every path whose traveler is posted to ambush you.

On every path where he lies in ambush for you.