العَفوُ مِن شِيَمِ الكِرامْ

وَالصّفحُ مِن شَأنِ العِظامْ

Forgiveness is a trait of the generous

And pardoning is the way of the honorable

وَأَخو الشّهامَةِ من عَفا

عَن قُدرةٍ على الاِنتِقامْ

He who forgives has the spirit of valor

By having the power to take revenge, yet refraining

لَيسَ الكَريمُ بِواجدٍ

وَالحِقدُ مِن طَبْعِ اللّئام

The noble one does not hold a grudge

Malice is the nature of the ignoble

لَولا الجِنايَةُ ما حَلا

عَفوُ الفَتى بَينَ الأَنام

Without wrongdoing, the youth's

Forgiveness would not shine among people

الخَوفُ يَكفي مَن جَنى

عَن ذَوقِهِ طَعمَ الحُسام

Fear is enough to restrain one

Who has tasted the blade of swords

ذُلُّ الذُّنوبِ أَمَرُّ مِن

ذَوقِ المنيَّةِ وَالحِمام

The disgrace of sins is more bitter

Than tasting death and annihilation

وَرِداؤُها بِئسَ الرّدى

وَسخامُها بِئسَ السّخام

Its garment is the worst of evil

And its stench is the worst stench

يا وَيحَ جانٍ قَد هَفا

مُتَرَدِّياً ثَوبَ اِحتِرام

Oh what a pity, O soul

Who casts off the garb of dignity

وَالحرُّ يُقبَلُ عُذرُهُ

مِن غَيرِ صَدٍّ أَو مَلام

The free man, his apology is accepted

Without hostility or blame

وَلَه يقابلُ مِنّةً

بِبَشاشةٍ ثمَّ اِبتِسام

And he meets a favor

With cheerful smiles

وَإِلَيهِ ينظرُ مُقبِلاً

وَيَمنُّ في لينِ الكَلام

And looks to him kindly

Speaking gentle words

وَيَقولُ أَهلاً مَرحبا

وَلَهُ يُحيّي بِالسّلام

Saying "welcome, hello"

And greets him with peace

وَيَرى تَذلُّلَه لَهُ

فَوقَ العُقوبَةِ بِالسّلام

And sees his humility to him

Above punishing him with peace

وَلَقد رَأيتُ أخا عُلىً

وَخَدينَ مَجدٍ وَاِحتِرام

I saw a noble brother

With cheeks of glory and dignity

في العَفوِ أَكرَم ماجدٍ

بِالصَّفحِ أَسنى ذي اِبتِسام

In forgiveness, more generous than the glorious

In pardoning, more benevolent than the smiling

يَعفو بِحُسنِ تَفَضُّلٍ

لا عَجزَ فيهِ عَنِ اِنتِقام

He forgives with excellent grace

Not unable to take revenge

يَلتَذُّ في عَفوٍ كَما

يَلتَذُّ في أَحلى الطَّعام

He delights in pardoning as

He delights in the sweetest food

الضَّيغَمُ اللَّيثُ الَّذي

مِنهُ الضّياغمُ في اِنهِزام

The formidable lion from whom

The predators flee defeated

بَدرُ المَعالي كامِلاً

عالي المَنازِلِ وَالمُقام

The full moon of glory

Of high position and status

ذو الطالِعِ المَيمونِ في

فَلكِ السّعودِ عَلى الدَّوام

Of auspicious influence in

The sky of prosperity forever

الجَوهرُ الفَردُ الَّذي

تَأبى مَحاسِنُهُ اِنقِسام

The unique gem whose virtues

Refuse to be divided

أَعني العَليَّ اِسْماً وَقَد

راً ثمَّ جاهاً لا يُرام

I mean the most high in name and position

Then glory that cannot be attained

مَن لاذَ فيهِ فَإِنّهُ

بَينَ البريَّةِ لا يُضام

Whoever takes refuge in him

Will not be harmed among all people

يا أَحنَفَ الحِلم الّذي

لي حِلمُه أَسنى مَرام

O most wise of patience whose

Patience is the best purpose for me

كُن عافِياً كُن صافِحاً

فَالصّفحُ أَليَقُ بِالكِرام

Be forgiving, be reconciling

For pardoning best befits the generous

وَالمُؤمِنونَ فَغَيظُهم

كَالبَرقِ يَلمَعُ في الظَّلام

And the believers, their anger

Flashes like lightning in the dark

إِنّي رَجوتُكَ طامِعاً

فَاِقبَل رَجائي وَالسّلام

I hoped in you, longing

So accept my hope and peace

وَاِسلَم وَدُم في عيشَةٍ

تَأبى مُصاحَبَةَ السّقام

And be safe and live in comfort

Refusing the company of illness

ما فيكَ طابَت مِدْحَتي

في حُسْنِ بدءٍ وَاِختِتَام

You are pure, my praise of you

Beautiful in its beginning and end