قَد رُضتُ نَفسِيَ حَتّى ذَلَّ جامِحُها

قَد رُضتُ نَفسِيَ حَتّى ذَلَّ جامِحُها

فَما أُصاحِبُ صَعبَ النَفسِ ما ريضا

فَما أُصاحِبُ صَعبَ النَفسِ ما ريضا

I have tamed my soul until its rebellious side submitted;

I have indulged my soul until its unruliness bowed down

So I do not befriend anyone of stubborn temper who has not been tamed.

So I do not befriend those difficult to please though they assent

يا أَلسُناً كَسُيوفِ الهِندِ خِلقَتُها

يا أَلسُناً كَسُيوفِ الهِندِ خِلقَتُها

مالي رَأَيتُكِ أَشبَهتِ المَقاريضا

مالي رَأَيتُكِ أَشبَهتِ المَقاريضا

O tongues, fashioned like the swords of India,

O tongues created like Indian swords in their sharpness

Why do I find you resembling shears?

Why have I seen you resemble scabbards?

إِنَّ الغُمودَ إِذا سُلَّت صَوارِمُها

إِنَّ الغُمودَ إِذا سُلَّت صَوارِمُها

قُلنَ اليَقينَ وَأَلغَينَ المَعاريضا

قُلنَ اليَقينَ وَأَلغَينَ المَعاريضا

For the scabbards, when their keen swords are drawn,

When its blades are drawn, the scabbard

Speak certain truth and cast equivocation aside.

Utters certainty and negates doubts