عَلِيَّ النّفسِ رِفقاً ثمّ رِفقاً

عَلِيَّ النّفسِ رِفقاً ثمّ رِفقاً

فَإِنّ الرّفقَ مِن شَأنِ العِظامِ

فَإِنّ الرّفقَ مِن شَأنِ العِظامِ

O noble-souled one, be gentle, then gentle again;

Be gentle with yourself, then gentle again

For gentleness is a trait of the great.

For gentleness befits the noble

وَمَن أَخطى فَكُن عَنهُ عَفوّاً

وَمَن أَخطى فَكُن عَنهُ عَفوّاً

فَإِنّ العَفوَ مِن شِيَمِ الكِرامِ

فَإِنّ العَفوَ مِن شِيَمِ الكِرامِ

And whoever errs, be forgiving toward him;

And if one does wrong, forgive him

For pardon is among the virtues of the noble.

For forgiveness is the mark of honor

وَكَظمُ الغَيظِ مَع عَفوٍ وَجودٍ

وَكَظمُ الغَيظِ مَع عَفوٍ وَجودٍ

هوَ المَمدوحُ في خَيرِ الكلامِ

هوَ المَمدوحُ في خَيرِ الكلامِ

And restraining anger, with pardon and generosity,

To swallow anger with forgiveness and kindness

Is what is praised in the finest of speech.

Is what is praised in the best of words