اقبَل مَعاذيرَ مَن يَأتيكَ مُعتَذِراً

إِن بَرَّ عِندَكَ فيما قالَ أَو فَجَرا

Accept the excuses of those who come to you apologetic

If he is virtuous in your eyes in what he says or commits

لَقَد أَطاعَكَ مَن يُرضيكَ ظاهِرُهُ

وَقَد أَجَلَّكَ مَن يَعصيكَ مُستَتِرا

He who pleases you outwardly has obeyed you

And he who disobeys you secretly has exalted you