إِنَّ المَكارِمَ أَخلاقٌ مُطَهَرةٌ

فَالدّينُ أَوَلُّها وَالعَقلُ ثانيها

Noble virtues are purified morals

Truly, noble virtues are traits of purity,

Religion is the first, reason comes next

Faith is the first of them, and reason is the second,

وَالعِلمُ ثالِثُها وَالحِلمُ رابِعَها

وَالجودُ خامِسُها وَالفَصلُ ساديها

Knowledge is the third, forbearance the fourth

Knowledge is the third, and forbearance is the fourth,

Generosity is the fifth, justice the sixth

Generosity is the fifth, and discernment is the sixth,

وَالبِرُّ سابِعُها وَالصَبرُ ثامِنُها

وَالشُكرُ تاسِعُها وَاللَينُ باقيها

Righteousness is the seventh, patience the eighth

Righteousness is the seventh, and patience is the eighth,

Gratitude is the ninth, gentleness remains

Gratitude is the ninth, and gentleness completes them.

وَالنَفسُ تَعلَم أَنّي لا أُصادِقُها

وَلَستُ أَرشُدُ إِلا حينَ أَعصيها

My soul knows I do not speak the truth to it

The soul knows well that I do not take it for a friend,

I advise only when I disobey it

And that I find no right guidance save when I disobey it.

وَالعَينُ تَعلَمُ مِن عَينَي مُحدِّثِها

إِن كانَ مِن حِزبِها أَو مَن يُعاديها

My eyes know from their talkative pair

The eye discerns, from the eyes of the one who speaks,

If they are allies or hostile rivals

Whether he is of its party or one who holds enmity.

عَيناكَ قَد دَلَّتا عَيناي مِنكَ عَلى

أَشياءَ لَولاهُما ما كُنتَ تُبديها

Your eyes have guided mine about you

Your eyes have signaled to my own, regarding you,

To things I'd not have known without their sight

Things that, were it not for them, you never would have shown.