1. أَدَّبتُ نَفسي فَما وَجَدتُ لَها

    بِغَيرِ تَقوى الإِلهِ مِن أَدَبِ

    I disciplined my soul, but found for it

    no discipline, apart from reverence for God,

  2. في كُلِّ حالاتِها وَإِن قَصُرَت

    أَفضَلُ مِن صَمتِها عَلى الكَربِ

    in all its states, even if it falls short,

    better than its silence amid distress.

  3. وَغَيبَةُ الناسِ إِنَّ غَيبَتَهُم

    حَرَّمَها ذو الَجَلال في الكُتُبِ

    And backbiting people—indeed, speaking ill of them—

    has been forbidden by the Lord of Majesty in the scriptures.

  4. إِن كانَ مِن فِضَّةٍ كَلامُكِ يا

    نَفسُ فَإِنَّ السُكوتَ مِن ذَهَبِ

    If your speech is silver, O

    soul, then indeed silence is gold.