أَصِفِGive sincerely المَوَدَّةَaffection مَنto whoever صَفاis pure لَكَtoward you ودُّهُhis affection
أَصِفِ المَوَدَّةَ مَن صَفا لَكَ ودُّهُ
وَاِترُكAnd forsake مُصافاةَclose friendship with القَريبِthe kinsman الأَميَلِturned away
وَاِترُك مُصافاةَ القَريبِ الأَميَلِ
Give sincere affection to whoever bears you sincere affection.
Describe the affection of one whose love for you is pure
And forsake close friendship with the kinsman who turns away.
And leave off fraternizing with the dear but fickle kinsman
كَمHow many مِنof بَعيدٍa distant man قَدindeed صَفاwas pure لَكَtoward you ودُّهُhis affection
كَم مِن بَعيدٍ قَد صَفا لَكَ ودُّهُ
وَقَريبِAnd a kinsman سَوءٍof bad character كَالبَعيدِlike the distant man الأَعزلِunarmed
وَقَريبِ سَوءٍ كَالبَعيدِ الأَعزلِ
Many a distant man has borne you sincere affection,
How many a distant one has had a pure love for you
And a bad kinsman is like a distant, unarmed man.
While a wicked kinsman was as distant as a stranger