فَأَكثَر مِن تَلقى يسرك قَولَه

فَأَكثَر مِن تَلقى يسرك قَولَه

وَلكِن قَليل من يسرك فعله

وَلكِن قَليل من يسرك فعله

For most of those you meet please you with their words;

The words of many bring you joy,

and yet few please you with their deeds.

But few act in ways that you enjoy.

وَقد كانَ حُسن الظَنِّ بَعضُ مَذاهِبي

وَقد كانَ حُسن الظَنِّ بَعضُ مَذاهِبي

فَأَدبني هذا الزَمانُ وَأَهلُهُ

فَأَدبني هذا الزَمانُ وَأَهلُهُ

And thinking well of others was once among my ways;

Good faith in people was my way,

so this age and its people taught me a lesson.

But this age and its people led me astray.