زَعَمَ اِبنُ سَلمى أَنَّ حِلمي ضَرَّ بي

ما ضَرَّ قَبلي أَهلَهُ الحِلمُ

Ibn Salma claimed that my forbearance has harmed me

No one was harmed before me by forbearance

إِنّا أُناسٌ مِن سَجِيَّتِهِم

صِدقُ الحَديثِ وَرَأيُهُم حَتمُ

We are people whose innate nature

Makes their speech truthful and their view decisive

لَبِسوا الحَياءَ فَإِن نَظَرتَ حَسِبتَهُم

سَقِموا وَلَم يَمسَسهُمُ سُقمُ

They have worn modesty, so if you look you think

They are sick though no illness has touched them

إِنّي وَجَدتُ العُدمَ أَكبَرُهُ

عُدمُ العُقولِ وَذَلِكَ العُدمُ

I have found the greatest lack is

Lack of intellect, and that is the lack

وَالمَرءُ أَكثَرُ عَيبِهِ ضَرَراً

خَطَلُ اللِسانِ وَصَمتَهُ حُكمُ

The most harmful flaw of a person

Is a loose tongue while silence is wisdom

والحزم تقوى اللّه فاتقه

ترشد وليس لفاجر حزمُ

And composure is fear of God, so fear Him

You will be guided, and the immoral has no composure

خير الأمور مغبة وشهادة

تقوى الاله وشرها الاثمُ

The best of matters is avoidance and testimony

Fear of God, and its evil is sin