1. Do not impose on others what you dislike for yourself,
And act with yourself as one dignified acts,

2. Repel with your silence any idea that angers you,
Beware of answering back, for it makes you more like him,

3. Leave the foolish to his folly and take your revenge
With forbearance or silence from him who acts foolishly,

4. Avoid jocularity and jesting, for such a person
Will fall and make light of him who jests with him,

5. Silence is a protection for the forbearing man
By which he keeps away from his honor what he dislikes,

6. Do not forget your forbearance when annoyance hurts you
From all who wrong you and treat you with enmity,

7. For sometimes the forbearing man is patient with annoyance
Until it seems as if he makes light of it,

8. And sometimes the forbearing man veils his answer
With silence though he is eloquent,

9. And sometimes he checks the foolishness of the ignorant
Until the vilest makes him feel humble,

10. And sometimes the dignified forgets his dignity
Until you see him foolishly shaking to and fro,

11. And sometimes those who bear you enmity
Fall silent from you if they are shamed and feel timid,

12. Verily the forbearing man keeps away from annoyance
And from enmity remains aloof and dignified,

13. Oppression fells its own people and shows them to you
Groaning from its violence and calamity,

14. Verily time disciplines its people
With its vicissitudes, rousing and warning them,

15. You are not wise about the lessons of time and its attributes,
Alas, I do not see you becoming wise about them!

16. And I see you have wearied yourself seeking wealth
Greedily, though none attains it through greed,

17. And I see you in the world competing,
Rivaling, jesting and laughing foolishly,

18. Say to those who pretend to be pious:
Let no pretender make light of himself!

19. Alas, piety is not hidden in the God-fearing man,
Alas, the devoted man’s state is not concealed!

20. When hearts conceal their secrets,
Their faces show you their manifold secrets.