1. Why is my kindness to him
Among men becomes like my wrongdoing?
١. مَا بَالُ إِحْسَانِي أَصْحَبْتُهُ
خَلَلَ الرِّجالِ يَصِيرُ مِثْلَ إساءَتِي
2. No sooner do I restrain harm
Than he comes at me with blows despite my tolerance and patience.
٢. ما إنْ كَفَفْتُ أَذيَّةً إلاَّ هَوْتَ
نَحْوِي بِكَفِّ تَجاوُزِي وَأَنَاتِي
3. Therefore I am forbearing, wise, and composed
Though I burst the rash in their onset.
٣. فَلِذاكَ أَصْبِرُ عَافٍ عاقِلٍ
وَأُهَتِّكُ الْمَذْعُورَ فِي وَثَباتِي
4. So when I neglect the ungrateful one, in truth
I only give him destruction through my heedlessness.
٤. فَإِذا غَفَلْتُ عَنِ الْكَفُور فإِنَّما
أُهْدِي إِلَيْهِ الْحَتْفَ مِنْ غَفَلاتي