فَأَكثِر من تَلقى يسرك قَولَه

فَأَكثِر من تَلقى يسرك قَولَه

وَلكِن قَليل من يَسرك فِعله

وَلكِن قَليل من يَسرك فِعله

For most of those you meet delight you with their words,

So gather more of those whose words give you joy,

but few delight you with their deeds.

But find only a few whose acts please you.

وَقد كانَ حُسن الظَنِّ بَعض مَذاهِبي

وَقد كانَ حُسن الظَنِّ بَعض مَذاهِبي

فَأَدبني هذا الزَمانُ وَأَهله

فَأَدبني هذا الزَمانُ وَأَهله

Indeed, thinking well of others was once among my ways,

And good opinion was one of my ways,

then this age and its people taught me a lesson.

Until this time and its people corrected me.