قلتُ حقّا وأحلِف

قلتُ حقّا وأحلِف

ليس في الناس منصفُ

ليس في الناس منصفُ

I have spoken the truth, and I swear:

I spoke truly, I swear

There is no fair person among the people.

Among people there is no one just

ومن الجور أنّني

ومن الجور أنّني

أتغابي وأعرف

أتغابي وأعرف

And it is unjust that I

And of injustice, that I

feign ignorance, though I know.

Deceive myself and pretend

يظلم المرء نفسه

يظلم المرء نفسه

في هواها ويسرفُ

في هواها ويسرفُ

A person wrongs his own self

A person wrongs himself

in following its desires, and goes to excess.

In his passions and exceeds

فإذا غشّ نفسهُ

فإذا غشّ نفسهُ

غيرها كيف ينصف

غيرها كيف ينصف

So if he deceives himself,

So if he deceives himself

how can he be fair to anyone else?

How can he be just to others