أرى النّاسَ قد سَنُّوا عِيادَةَ كُلِّ مَنْ

بهِ مرضٌ والجِسمُ يؤذَى ويُكْلَمُ

I see that people have made it customary to visit anyone

who is ill, whose body is afflicted.

وقد عطَّلوا مرضى النُّفوسِ وأغفَلُوا

حقوقَهُمْ والحَقُّ أولى وألزَمُ

Yet they have neglected those sick in soul, and disregarded

their due—though that right is worthier and more binding.

ولو أنصَفُوا عادُوهُم وتَرحمَّوا

علَيهِمْ فإنَّ النَّفسَ أعلى وأكْرَمُ

Had they been just, they would have visited them and shown compassion

toward them, for the soul is higher and nobler.