لَو قيلَ لِلمُجبَرِ المَعتوهِ اِنَّ لَهُ

أَباً يُريدُ فَساداً طاحَ من غَضَبِهِ

Had it been said to the compeller, lost in folly,

That he has a father who wishes corruption through his rage,

وَظَلَّ يَدفَعُ ما قَد قيلَ من أَنفٍ

مُجَدِّداً عُجبَهُ فيه إِلى عَجَبِه

He would have continued to reject what was said out of spite

Renewing his wonder at it, to his wonder,

فَكَيفَ قالَ يريدُ اللَهُ فاحِشَةً

يَذُمُّها من زَناءِ المَرءِ أَو كَذِبِه

How could it be said that God wants immorality

Which He condemns, be it from fornication or lies?

لَولا التَجاهُلُ عَزَّ اللَهُ معتَلِياً

عَمّا يُقَوِّه ذو الاِجبارِ في خَطبِهِ

Were it not for ignorance, God would be exalted

From what the compeller alleges in his discourse,

وَهو المُريدُ صَلاحَ الخَلقِ أَجمَعِهِم

كَذاكَ أَنبَأَنا في النَصِّ من كُتُبِهِ

And He wants righteousness for all creation

As He informed us in His scriptures,

وَالذُمُّ يَلحَق عِندَ الخَلق مُوجِدَهُ

وَالاِثمُ يَحصَلُ في ميزانِ مُكتَسِبِه

And blame attaches to its originator in people's eyes

While sin accrues in the balance of its committer.