1. Do not judge justice, for You are the Judge
And upholding virtue openly is more beautiful
١. عن العدل لا تعدل فأنت المعدل
وإنَّ قيامَ الفضلِ بالحرّ أجملُ
2. If God had treated people with His justice
He would have destroyed them, and God is more virtuous than that
٢. فلو عامل الله العبادَ بعدله
لأهلكهم والله من ذاك أفضل
3. He gives generously and enriches them with kindness
And none can match His generosity when He is benevolent
٣. يجودُ ويثري بالجميل عليهمُ
وليس له عما اقتضى الجودُ مَعدِلُ
4. Blessed be God, full of glory in His dominion
Perfect in might, and God is the most complete in sovereignty
٤. تباركَ جلَّ اللهُ في ملكوته
كمالاً وإن الله في الملك أكمل
5. For He who is in the dominion is the image of His essence
And in God's kingdom is a distinct part
٥. فإن الذي في الملك صورة عينه
وفي ملكوت الله جزؤ مفصل
6. This wording has no exaggeration in our terminology
Consider well what I rely upon
٦. وليس لهذا اللفظِ عند اصطلاحنا
مبالغة فانظر على ما أعوِّل
7. If you are among people, speak in their dialect
And then refinement and clarity is beautiful through it
٧. إذا كنتَ في قومٍ تعرف بلحنهم
وحينئذ يجملُ به ويفصل
8. If you are among people, speak in their dialect
So they understand you, do not resort to the individual asking
٨. إذا كنتَ في قومٍ تكلم بلحنهم
لتفهمهم لا تلجىء الشخصَ يسأل
9. If the one known for his incapacity, his worth would be known
You would be the generous of the time, giving and excelling
٩. لو أنَّ الذي بالعجز يُعرف قدرُه
لكنت كريم الوقتِ يسدي ويفضل
10. And you would have the high ground, and you would have the range
You would be the highest, and none below you
١٠. وكانت لك العليا وكنت لك المدى
وأنتَ بها العالي وما ثم أسفلُ
11. And from where did this come, I wish I knew, so elaborate
My words which I have spoken, and detail them
١١. ومن أين جاءتْ ليت شعري ففرِّعوا
كلامي الذي قد قلت فيه وفصِّلوا
12. I learned it, I said, I deposited it in my speech
And the summary of my matter is that I am not ignorant
١٢. علمتُ به قلت أودعتُه في مقالتي
وجملة أمري أنني لستُ أجهل
13. Because I spoke to you with what I brought you
And whoever speaks the truth, say how can he be ignorant?
١٣. لأني به قلت الذي جئتكم به
ومن كان قول الحق قل كيف يجهل
14. I am God's words, so the saying is our saying
Because I am the collection, and others are detailed
١٤. أنا كلماتُ الله فالقولُ قولنا
لأني مجموعٌ وغيري مفصّل
15. Like Jesus who gives life and creates a bird
So he gives life by God's permission, and truth distinguishes
١٥. كعيسى الذي يحيى وينشىء طائراً
فيحيى بإذنِ الله والحقُّ فيصل
16. So let whoever is like me speak words like ours
Otherwise, silence in a servant is more beautiful
١٦. فمن كان مثلي فليقلْ مثلَ قولنا
وإلا فإن الصمتَ بالعبد أجمل