رَدِ الماءَ ما جاءَت بِصَفوٍ ذَنائِبُه

رَدِ الماءَ ما جاءَت بِصَفوٍ ذَنائِبُه

وَدَعهُ إِذا خيضَت بِطَرقٍ مَشارِبُه

وَدَعهُ إِذا خيضَت بِطَرقٍ مَشارِبُه

Go to the water while its lower reaches run clear;

Return the water when it comes pure in its streams,

And leave it when its drinking places are churned with foul water.

And leave it when its veins are muddied.

أُعاتِبُ مَن يَحلو لَدَيَّ عِتابُهُ

أُعاتِبُ مَن يَحلو لَدَيَّ عِتابُهُ

وَأَترُكُ مَن لا أَشتَهي وَأُجانِبُه

وَأَترُكُ مَن لا أَشتَهي وَأُجانِبُه

I reproach the one whom I find it sweet to reproach,

I reproach whoever's reproach is sweet to me,

And leave the one I do not desire, and avoid him.

And shun whoever I don't desire.

وَمِن لَذَّةِ الدُنيا وَإِن كُنتَ ظالِماً

وَمِن لَذَّةِ الدُنيا وَإِن كُنتَ ظالِماً

عِناقُكَ مَظلوماً وَأَنتَ تُعاتِبُه

عِناقُكَ مَظلوماً وَأَنتَ تُعاتِبُه

And among this world's pleasures—even if you are in the wrong—

And from the bliss of life, even if you are unjust,

Is your embrace of one who is wronged, while you reproach him.

Embracing you oppressed, while you reproach me.