أَلبِس عَدوَّكَ في رِفقٍ وَفي دعَةٍ

أَلبِس عَدوَّكَ في رِفقٍ وَفي دعَةٍ

طوبي لِذي إِربَةٍ لِلدَهرِ لَبّاسِ

طوبي لِذي إِربَةٍ لِلدَهرِ لَبّاسِ

Clothe your enemy in gentleness and ease;

Deal with your enemy gently and calmly.

blessed is the discerning man who knows how to dress for every turn of fortune.

Blessed is the resourceful man, adept at dealing with the times.

وَلا تَغُرَّنكَ أَحقادٌ مُزَمَّلَةٌ

وَلا تَغُرَّنكَ أَحقادٌ مُزَمَّلَةٌ

قَد يُركَب الدَّبِرُ الدامي بِأَحلاسِ

قَد يُركَب الدَّبِرُ الدامي بِأَحلاسِ

Do not let concealed grudges deceive you:

And do not let cloaked grudges deceive you.

a bleeding, saddle-galled beast may still be ridden beneath saddlecloths.

A bleeding, saddle-galled mount may be ridden with saddlecloths.

وَاستَغنِ عَن كُلِّ ذي قُربى وَذي رَحِمٍ

وَاستَغنِ عَن كُلِّ ذي قُربى وَذي رَحِمٍ

إِنَّ الفَتى الَّذي استَغنى عَنِ الناسِ

إِنَّ الفَتى الَّذي استَغنى عَنِ الناسِ

And be independent of every close kinsman and blood relation;

And be independent of every kinsman and blood relative.

for the true man is he who has no need of others.

Indeed, the true man is he who has no need of others.