أَلبِس عَدوَّكَ في رِفقٍ وَفي دعَةٍ

أَلبِس عَدوَّكَ في رِفقٍ وَفي دعَةٍ

طوبي لِذي إِربَةٍ لِلدَهرِ لَبّاسِ

طوبي لِذي إِربَةٍ لِلدَهرِ لَبّاسِ

Deal with your enemy gently and calmly.

Clothe your enemy with gentleness and calm,

Blessed is the discerning man, well versed in the ways of time.

Blessed is he who dons patience as his cloak forever,

وَلا تَغُرَّنكَ أَحقادٌ مُزَمَّلَةٌ

وَلا تَغُرَّنكَ أَحقادٌ مُزَمَّلَةٌ

قَد يُركَب الدَّبِرُ الدامي بِأَحلاسِ

قَد يُركَب الدَّبِرُ الدامي بِأَحلاسِ

And let no cloaked grudges deceive you:

And do not let hatreds wrapped up mislead you,

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

For even the bloody back may yet be ridden with fine saddles,

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 have no need of any kinsman or blood relation.

And dispense with all who are of kin and womb,

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

For the man who can do without people is blessed.