أَتَمُّ الناسُ أَعرَفُهُم بِنَقصِه

وَأَقمَعُهُم لِشَهوَتِهِ وَحِرصِه

The perfect of men are those who best know their own defects,

The most perfect of people is he who best knows his own flaws,

And whose passions, and avarice are most laid in chains;

And he who most firmly suppresses his appetites and greed.

فَدانِ عَلى السَلامَةِ مَن يُداني

وَمَن لَم تَرضَ صُحبَتَهُ فَأَقصِه

Therefore, become intimate with the man who is perfect,

So draw near, for safety's sake, to the one who draws near,

And him whose society you have found to be worthless reject.

And he whose companionship pleases you not—cast him aside.

وَلا تَستَغلِ عافيَةً بِشَيءٍ

وَلا تَستَرخِصَنَّ أَذىً لِرُخصِه

Do not take an undue advantage of any one's ignorance,

Do not consider well-being too expensive at any price,

Nor, for the sake of your own ease regard no one's sufferings.

And never reckon harm as cheap, however low its cost.

وَخَلِّ الفَحصَ ما اِستَغنَيتَ عَنهُ

فَكَم مُستَجلِبٍ عَيباً لِفَحصِه

There are many pests met with in scrutinising others,

Leave aside scrutiny so long as you can do without it,

So refrain from investigating those you can do without.

For how many invite faults upon themselves merely by prying.