قَصَرتُ ذاتي عَلى ذاتي وَقُلتُ لَها

قَصَرتُ ذاتي عَلى ذاتي وَقُلتُ لَها

فِرّي عَن الناسِ ما مِنهُم تَرَي حَسَنا

فِرّي عَن الناسِ ما مِنهُم تَرَي حَسَنا

I kept myself to myself and said to myself:

I secluded myself and said to my soul,

Flee from people; you will see no good among them,

"Turn away from people, for you see no good in them,

سِوى ثَقيلينِ تُؤذي القَلبَ صُحبَتُهُم

سِوى ثَقيلينِ تُؤذي القَلبَ صُحبَتُهُم

وَتُتعِبُ الأَشرَفَينِ الطَرفَ وَالأُذُنا

وَتُتعِبُ الأَشرَفَينِ الطَرفَ وَالأُذُنا

Only two bores whose company hurts the heart

Other than troublesome companions whose company hurts the heart

And wearies the two noblest organs—the eye and the ear.

And wearies the noblest eyes and ears."