وَإِنّي لَتَثنِيَني عَنِ الجَهلِ وَالخَنا

وَإِنّي لَتَثنِيَني عَنِ الجَهلِ وَالخَنا

وَعَن شَتمِ أَقوامٍ خَلائِقُ أَربَعُ

وَعَن شَتمِ أَقوامٍ خَلائِقُ أَربَعُ

Indeed, four things hold me back from folly and foul speech,

And indeed I am kept from folly and foul speech,

and from reviling other peoples—four traits:

and from insulting people, by four traits:

حَياءٌ وَإِسلامٌ وَتَقوى وَأَنَّني

حَياءٌ وَإِسلامٌ وَتَقوى وَأَنَّني

كَريمٌ وَمِثلي قَد يَضُرُّ وَيَنفَعُ

كَريمٌ وَمِثلي قَد يَضُرُّ وَيَنفَعُ

modesty, Islam, piety, and the fact that I am

modesty, Islam, piety, and the fact that I

noble—and one such as I can harm or benefit.

am noble—and one like me can harm and help.

فأن أعفُ يوماً عن ذنوبٍ وتعتدي

فأن أعفُ يوماً عن ذنوبٍ وتعتدي

فأنَّ العصا كانت لغيرك تُقرعُ

فأنَّ العصا كانت لغيرك تُقرعُ

So if one day I forgive offenses while you transgress,

So if I pardon offenses one day and you transgress,

it is because the staff was struck for someone other than you.

then indeed the staff was struck for someone other than you.

فَشَتّانَ ما بَيني وَبَينِكَ إِنَّني

فَشَتّانَ ما بَيني وَبَينِكَ إِنَّني

عَلى كُلِّ حالٍ أَستَقيمُ وَتَظلَعُ

عَلى كُلِّ حالٍ أَستَقيمُ وَتَظلَعُ

How vast the gulf between you and me! Indeed, I

So great is the difference between me and you! Indeed, I

remain upright in every circumstance, while you go crooked.

stand straight in every circumstance, while you limp.

تصيحُ وتستشلي كلاباً تهرُّني

تصيحُ وتستشلي كلاباً تهرُّني

وتشرعني فيما أردتُ وتشرعُ

وتشرعني فيما أردتُ وتشرعُ

You shout and set dogs upon me to snarl at me,

You shout and summon dogs that snarl at me,

and you embolden me in what I intended, and you embark upon it.

and draw me into what I intended, and enter it yourself.