في ذا الزَّمانِ مِن الخِلّانِ أَصدَقُهم

في ذا الزَّمانِ مِن الخِلّانِ أَصدَقُهم

مَنْ وُدُّهُ المِلحُ فَوقَ الجَفنِ قَد ظَهَرا

مَنْ وُدُّهُ المِلحُ فَوقَ الجَفنِ قَد ظَهَرا

In this age, the truest among friends

In this age of insincere friends, the truest of them all

Is one whose affection appears as salt upon the eyelid.

Is he whose love appears openly like salt above the eyelid

إِنْ غِيبَ عَنهُ فَلَم تُوحِشْه غَيبةُ مَنْ

إِنْ غِيبَ عَنهُ فَلَم تُوحِشْه غَيبةُ مَنْ

قَد غابَ عَنهُ وَلَم يَأنَس بِمَن حَضَرا

قَد غابَ عَنهُ وَلَم يَأنَس بِمَن حَضَرا

If someone is absent from him, he feels no loneliness at the absence of one

If one who's absent fails to sadden him with his absence

Who has gone from him, nor does he find comfort in one who is present.

Though absent, yet he shuns the company of those who're present