وَذي سَفهٍ يُخاطِبُني بِجَهلٍ

فَأَكرَهُ أَن أَكونَ لَهُ مُجيبا

And one lacking wisdom addresses me in ignorance

A fool addresses me with words of ignorance,

Yet I'm loath to answer him

And I loathe to be the one who answers him.

يَزيدُ سَفاهَةً وَأَزيدُ حُلماً

كَعودٍ زادَ بِالإِحراقِ طِيبا

He increases in foolishness and I in forbearance

He increases in folly, while I increase in forbearance,

Like aloes-wood made fragrant by the fire's touch

Like incense wood that yields more fragrance when burned.