إِذا كُنتَ تَأتي المَرءَ تُعظِمُ حَقَّهُ

وَيَجهَلُ مِنكَ الحَقَّ فَالهَجرُ أَوسَعُ

If you come to a man exalting his right

Yet he is ignorant of your right, estrangement is best.

فَفي الناسِ أَبدالٌ وَفي الهَجرِ راحَةٌ

وَفي الناسِ عَمّا لا يُواتيكَ مَقنعُ

Among people are substitutes, and in estrangement is comfort,

And among people is one who will not satisfy you.

وَإِنَّ اِمرَأً يَرضى الهَوانَ لِنَفسِهِ

حَرِيٌّ بِجَدعِ الأَنفِ وَالجَدعُ أَشنَعُ

A man who accepts humiliation for himself

Deserves to have his nose cut off, and mutilation is uglier.

فَدَع عَنكَ أَفعالاً يَضُرُّكَ فِعلُها

وَسَهِّل حِجاباً إِذنُهُ لَيسَ يَنفَعُ

So leave deeds which, if done, would harm you,

And gently drop a veil, for harshness will not avail.