مُقارَبَةُ اللَيثِ الهَصورِ وَغَيرِهِ

مِنَ الأَفعوانِ الصِلِّ حينَ يُساوِرُهُ

The lion's den, though fierce, feels safer

Approaching the fierce, crushing lion and his kin,

Than a neighbor whose familiar guise

Or the venomous viper at the moment it strikes,

أَحَقُّ وَأَحرى أَن تَبيتَ لَدَيهُما

عَلى الأَمنِ في لَيلٍ تُخافُ غَوائِرُه

Conceals his well laid traps and snares for you -

Is safer and more worthy for you to sleep beside,

He'd have your soul through any means or device

Securely, in a night whose calamities are feared,

مِنَ الصَاحِبِ الفَردِ القَريبِ مُعادياً

إِذا كانَ في جيرانِ بَيتٍ تُجاوِرُه

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

Living right among the neighbors where you dwell,

وَبُغيَتُهُ إِتلافُ روحِكَ جاهِداً

بِكُلِّ سَبيلٍ مُرصَدٍ لَكَ عابِرُه

Whose goal is to destroy your life, striving earnestly,

On every path where he lies in ambush for you.