Claude 2

  1. لا تحسنَنّ إلى الشرير مطلبا

    منه المودة فالإحسان يحقده

    Do not do good to the wicked seeking

    His affection, for kindness angers him.

  2. تدنو إليه بشيء ليس يعرفه

    والضدّ ينكر ضدّا ليس يعهدُه

    Approach him with what he knows not,

    And the opposite rejects its opposite unaccustomed to it.

  3. عامله بالشر وانظر كيف موقعه

    فالشر يصلحه والخير يفسده

    Treat him with evil and see what his position is:

    Evil improves him and good corrupts him.

  4. وكلما ازددت إحسانا لقيت عنا

    منه وجرّب فخير القول أقصده

    The more you increase kindness to him, the more you find

    Ingratitude from him. Try it, the best words are the most just.

  5. ألم تر الجمر والكبريت يلهبه

    بالطبع والماء يطفيه ويخمده

    Have you not seen embers and sulphur,

    How fire inflames them by nature, and water extinguishes and quenches them?

  6. للخير أهل إذا أوليتهم حسنا

    أولوك شكرا وخير البر أوحده

    The good people, when you treat them with kindness,

    They are grateful, and the best righteous deed singles them out.

  7. وصاحب السوؤ في استصلاحه تعب

    يدنو إليه وطبع الشر يبعده

    As for the despicable man, your effort to reform him is wasted,

    You approach him while the nature of evil distances him.