كَم مِن سَفيهٍ غاظَني سَفهاً

كَم مِن سَفيهٍ غاظَني سَفهاً

فَشَفَيتُ نَفسي مِنهُ بِالحِلمِ

فَشَفَيتُ نَفسي مِنهُ بِالحِلمِ

How many a fool has angered me through folly!

How many a fool has vexed me with folly,

So I soothed my soul through forbearance toward him.

Yet I calmed myself against him with forbearance,

وَكَفَيتُ نَفسي ظُلمَ عادِيَتي

وَكَفَيتُ نَفسي ظُلمَ عادِيَتي

وَمَنَحتُ صَفوَ مَوَدَّتي سِلمي

وَمَنَحتُ صَفوَ مَوَدَّتي سِلمي

And I spared myself my foes’ injustice.

And I restrained myself from the wrong of my adversary,

And I bestowed my pure affection on those at peace with me.

And I granted the choice of my affection in peace.

وَلَقَد رُزِقتُ لِظالِمي غِلَظاً

وَلَقَد رُزِقتُ لِظالِمي غِلَظاً

وَرَحِمتُهُ إِذ لَجَّ في ظُلمي

وَرَحِمتُهُ إِذ لَجَّ في ظُلمي

And indeed I was endowed with sternness toward my oppressor.

Truly I was granted harshness against my oppressor,

Yet I pitied him when he persisted in wronging me.

Yet I had mercy on him when he persisted in wronging me.