إن تُعْتِبَ الخِلَّ في ذَنبٍ جَزاك قِلىً

إن تُعْتِبَ الخِلَّ في ذَنبٍ جَزاك قِلىً

أو تُعْفِهِ يَبْقَ طُوْلَ الدهرِ يؤذِيكا

أو تُعْفِهِ يَبْقَ طُوْلَ الدهرِ يؤذِيكا

If you reproach a friend for a fault, he repays you with aversion;

If you blame my mistakes, little as they may be,

or if you excuse him, he keeps hurting you for all time.

Or if you forgive me, the hurt lingers forever.

فإنْ تُطِقْ تَجمع الضِّدَّيْنِ في نَسَقٍ

فإنْ تُطِقْ تَجمع الضِّدَّيْنِ في نَسَقٍ

فَرُبَّما قَد تَرى خِلّاً يُواتِيكا

فَرُبَّما قَد تَرى خِلّاً يُواتِيكا

So if you can bring the two opposites together in a single sequence,

If you can endure the paradox of both blame and pardon,

then perhaps you may find a friend who agrees with you.

Perhaps you may find a friend who comes to you.