يَدْعُو لَمَن ضَرُّهُ أَقْرَبُ مِن نَّفْعِهِ لَبِئْسَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَلَبِئْسَ الْعَشِيرُ
YadAAoo laman darruhu aqrabu min nafAAihi labi/sa almawla walabi/sa alAAasheeru
He calls (one) who - his harm (is) closer than his benefit. Surely, an evil protector and surely an evil friend!
[And sometimes] he invokes [another human being] one that is far more likely to cause harm than benefit: vile, indeed, is such a patron and vile the follower!
(Perhaps) they call on one whose hurt is nearer than his profit: evil, indeed, is the patron, and evil the companion (or help)!
He calleth unto him whose harm is nearer than his benefit; verily an evil patron and verily an evil friend!
He calls on him whose harm is nearer than his benefit. Certainly an evil guardian and an evil associate!
He invokes one whose harm is closer than his benefit - how wretched the protector and how wretched the associate.