أَتَمُّ الناس أَعرفُهُم بِنَقصِه

أَتَمُّ الناس أَعرفُهُم بِنَقصِه

وَأَقمَعُهُم لِشَهوَتِهِ وَحَمصِه

وَأَقمَعُهُم لِشَهوَتِهِ وَحَمصِه

The most complete of people is the one most aware of his own shortcomings,

I know people best by their flaws

and the one who best curbs his desire and his greed [uncertain reading].

And I tame them for their desires and impetuousness

فَدانِ عَلى السَلامَةِ مَن تُداني

فَدانِ عَلى السَلامَةِ مَن تُداني

وَمَن لَم يَرضَ صُحبتَهُ فَأَقصِه

وَمَن لَم يَرضَ صُحبتَهُ فَأَقصِه

So draw close, on safe terms, to those you befriend,

So treat with peace whoever you treat

and whoever does not approve of his companionship, keep him at a distance.

And whoever you don't like their company, avoid them

وَخَلِّ الفَحصَ ما اِستَغنَيتَ عَنهُ

وَخَلِّ الفَحصَ ما اِستَغنَيتَ عَنهُ

فَكَم مِن جالِبٍ غَيظاً بِفَحصِه

فَكَم مِن جالِبٍ غَيظاً بِفَحصِه

And leave off probing as long as you can do without it,

Refrain from prying into what you can do without

for many a person brings on anger through his probing.

For how many attract wrath by their prying

وَلا تَستَغلِ عافِيَةً بِشَيءٍ

وَلا تَستَغلِ عافِيَةً بِشَيءٍ

وَلا تَستَرخِصَنَّ أَذىً لِرُخصِه

وَلا تَستَرخِصَنَّ أَذىً لِرُخصِه

Do not consider any price too high for well-being,

Don't take advantage of well-being in anything

nor ever deem harm cheap because it costs little.

Don't make light of harm just because it's cheap