ومَن يَطمَع بعَفوِ اللَه حتَّى

يَميلَ بهِ الطَماعُ إلى الخَطاءِ

Whoever hopes for God's pardon, though

Greed inclines him to err,

يَقَع وَشكاً بأَيدي عدلِ ربٍّ

فيُسلِمُهُ إلى سيف القَضاءِ

Will fall suspect into the hands of his Lord’s justice,

Which will deliver him to the sword of destiny.

فلا تَجنح يميناً او شَمالا

وقِف بينَ المَخافةِ والرَجاءِ

So do not lean right or left,

But stand between fear and hope.

فذو الأَطراف مذمومُ الثَناءِ

وذو الأَوساط محمودُ السَناءِ

He of the extremes is blameworthy,

While he of the middle course is praiseworthy.

تَمَثَّل سُلَّماً فيها تَراءَى ال

قُوَى بينَ انحِدارٍ وارتِقاءِ

He is like a ladder in which the eye sees

No foothold between ascent and descent.

فعِندَ قُنوطِكَ اصعَد بِارتِجاءٍ

وعِندَ طَماعكَ اهبِط باتِقاءِ

So when you despair, ascend hopefully,

And when you are greedy, descend cautiously.