إِذا كُنتَ تَأتي المَرءَ تُعظِمُ حَقَّهُ

إِذا كُنتَ تَأتي المَرءَ تُعظِمُ حَقَّهُ

وَيَجهَلُ مِنكَ الحَقَّ فَالهَجرُ أَوسَعُ

وَيَجهَلُ مِنكَ الحَقَّ فَالهَجرُ أَوسَعُ

If you visit a man, honoring his due,

If you come to a man exalting his right

and he disregards your due, then parting offers greater freedom.

Yet he is ignorant of your right, estrangement is best.

فَفي الناسِ أَبدالٌ وَفي الهَجرِ راحَةٌ

فَفي الناسِ أَبدالٌ وَفي الهَجرِ راحَةٌ

وَفي الناسِ عَمّا لا يُواتيكَ مَقنعُ

وَفي الناسِ عَمّا لا يُواتيكَ مَقنعُ

For among people there are replacements, and in parting there is rest;

Among people are substitutes, and in estrangement is comfort,

and among people is a satisfying substitute for what does not suit you.

And among people is one who will not satisfy you.

وَإِنَّ اِمرَأً يَرضى الهَوانَ لِنَفسِهِ

وَإِنَّ اِمرَأً يَرضى الهَوانَ لِنَفسِهِ

حَرِيٌّ بِجَدعِ الأَنفِ وَالجَدعُ أَشنَعُ

حَرِيٌّ بِجَدعِ الأَنفِ وَالجَدعُ أَشنَعُ

And indeed, a man who accepts humiliation for himself

A man who accepts humiliation for himself

deserves to have his nose cut off—and such mutilation is more hideous.

Deserves to have his nose cut off, and mutilation is uglier.

فَدَع عَنكَ أَفعالاً يَضُرُّكَ فِعلُها

فَدَع عَنكَ أَفعالاً يَضُرُّكَ فِعلُها

وَسَهِّل حِجاباً إِذنُهُ لَيسَ يَنفَعُ

وَسَهِّل حِجاباً إِذنُهُ لَيسَ يَنفَعُ

So leave aside deeds whose doing harms you,

So leave deeds which, if done, would harm you,

and make light of being barred when permission to enter brings no benefit.

And gently drop a veil, for harshness will not avail.