أرى كل مرتاب يخاف خياله

أرى كل مرتاب يخاف خياله

كأن عيون العالمين تراقبه

كأن عيون العالمين تراقبه

I see everyone beset by suspicion fearing his own shadow,

I see every doubter fearing his imagination

As though the eyes of all the world were watching him.

As if the eyes of the two worlds are watching him

يكاد لفرط الخوف يبدي ضميره

يكاد لفرط الخوف يبدي ضميره

لكل امرئٍ تخشى عليه عواقبه

لكل امرئٍ تخشى عليه عواقبه

From sheer excess of fear, he almost reveals his secret thoughts

He almost reveals his conscience out of intense fear

To every person whose consequences for him are feared.

For every person fears the consequences of what he is wary of

على بوادٍ من يخاف اغتيابه

على بوادٍ من يخاف اغتيابه

تبت لديها في الأنام مناقبه

تبت لديها في الأنام مناقبه

Upon the outward signs of one who fears being slandered,

In the wilderness, he who fears being caught off guard

His virtues have perished before them among humankind.

His merits have become firmly established among people

فإياكما يا صاحبي ومشهداً

فإياكما يا صاحبي ومشهداً

تنسيكما ما سر منه عواقبه

تنسيكما ما سر منه عواقبه

So beware, my two companions, of a scene

So beware, my two friends, and a scene

Whose consequences make you both forget whatever joy it gave.

That makes you forget the consequences of what happened in it

وإياكما والذنب ترتكبانه

وإياكما والذنب ترتكبانه

وإن كان في الأحيان يعذر راكبه

وإن كان في الأحيان يعذر راكبه

And beware, you two, of the sin you commit,

And beware, you two, of a sin you would commit

Even if its rider is at times excused.

Even if sometimes its committer is excused

فما كل معذورٍ حقيقاً بعذره

فما كل معذورٍ حقيقاً بعذره

ولا كل معذولٍ تعيب معايبه

ولا كل معذولٍ تعيب معايبه

For not everyone excused is deserving of his excuse,

For not every excused one is truly excused for his excuse

Nor is everyone blamed disgraced by his faults.

Nor is every accused one's faults worthy of reproach