أَتَمُّ الناسُ أَعرَفُهُم بِنَقصِه

أَتَمُّ الناسُ أَعرَفُهُم بِنَقصِه

وَأَقمَعُهُم لِشَهوَتِهِ وَحِرصِه

وَأَقمَعُهُم لِشَهوَتِهِ وَحِرصِه

The most complete of people is the one most aware of his shortcomings,

The perfect of men are those who best know their own defects,

The most perfect of people is he who best knows his own flaws,

And who best restrains his desire and greed.

And whose passions, and avarice are most laid in chains;

And he who most firmly suppresses his appetites and greed.

فَدانِ عَلى السَلامَةِ مَن يُداني

فَدانِ عَلى السَلامَةِ مَن يُداني

وَمَن لَم تَرضَ صُحبَتَهُ فَأَقصِه

وَمَن لَم تَرضَ صُحبَتَهُ فَأَقصِه

So, on safe terms, draw near to whoever draws near,

Therefore, become intimate with the man who is perfect,

So draw near, for safety's sake, to the one who draws near,

And whoever's company displeases you, keep him at a distance.

And him whose society you have found to be worthless reject.

And he whose companionship pleases you not—cast him aside.

وَلا تَستَغلِ عافيَةً بِشَيءٍ

وَلا تَستَغلِ عافيَةً بِشَيءٍ

وَلا تَستَرخِصَنَّ أَذىً لِرُخصِه

وَلا تَستَرخِصَنَّ أَذىً لِرُخصِه

Do not deem well-being too costly at any price,

Do not take an undue advantage of any one's ignorance,

Do not consider well-being too expensive at any price,

And never deem harm a bargain because it comes cheap.

Nor, for the sake of your own ease regard no one's sufferings.

And never reckon harm as cheap, however low its cost.

وَخَلِّ الفَحصَ ما اِستَغنَيتَ عَنهُ

وَخَلِّ الفَحصَ ما اِستَغنَيتَ عَنهُ

فَكَم مُستَجلِبٍ عَيباً لِفَحصِه

فَكَم مُستَجلِبٍ عَيباً لِفَحصِه

And leave probing aside as long as you have no need of it,

There are many pests met with in scrutinising others,

Leave aside scrutiny so long as you can do without it,

For many a man brings reproach upon himself through his probing.

So refrain from investigating those you can do without.

For how many invite faults upon themselves merely by prying.