1. Do not burden anyone with yourself, do not accept injustice even if they insult and rebuke you.
Greet all creation with cheerfulness, do not frown, none who is gentle has lost.

2. Pardon them, do not count their sins even if they go too far in harming you.
If you account their deeds and punish them, they will hate and dominate you and shake you.

3. Greet your enemy courteously, surely he who is gentle will be safe from harm.
Leave off vanity, arrogance, pride, resentment, pettiness, O you dignified one.

4. You will be safe from defects and harm from all mankind if you follow what they have imparted.
Leave off pointless words and other things, from food or a gathering you arrange.

5. Indeed, pointlessness kills the hearts of people, and by leaving it you give life and rise in station.
And if you take a true, righteous friend and learn the good from him you are the most knowing.

6. Do not listen to the tale of a slanderer against him even if talebearers circulate and go too far.
Do not distance him without clear proof if you are forbearing and of those who know.

7. Perhaps they envied you or envied him so they lied about him and stirred up trouble.
Perhaps they found fault with a devout, righteous man who is honored for his knowledge.

8. If not for fate and the words of a resentful slanderer, Joseph would not have suffered.
He remained seven years in prison, yet in the deep well worse than that he was thrown.

9. He was the Prophet, savior, who called to virtues, the Merciful, Most Kind delivered him.
Likewise the Mother of the Faithful and their slander, she was blamed with clear falsehood and they did not refrain.

10. And likewise the son of Maqla, they cut off his fingers with misfortune while he was innocent and noble.
How many, how many scholars and teachers like Moses' apprentice they called ignorant and rubbed in the dirt.

11. With what thing did they bring him down from the heights, success and comprehension were his lot?
When a despicable person concocts a rumor they pass it on, this one rolls it and that one knocks it along.

12. Until it is like spun yarn, woven excellently, so they admire it and say “this is the one of poetic craft!”
Who is he that escapes safely from their faults, even the wisest and noblest of men?

13. So beware, do not accept the tale of a resentful slanderer among the knowledgeable, whose father is the Holy Book.
Look, think, consider, listen, be forbearing, patient, quiet, and safe from what leaves you behind.

14. Not everyone who says “I am a believer” is truly a believer or is unmarred by vain displays.
Until he has four traits, his nature characterised by morals that reveal themselves:

15. No harm touches him and he does not inflict harm, even if with license he could pretend to.
Reconciling after being wronged, overlooking insults from one who casts them.

16. Giving generously to one who is wise but niggardly, and gracious to one who sees his gentleness.
These traits are a gift from our Lord to our Prophet, the Guide, he who is most refined.