خَلِّLeave aside عَنكَaway from you المَزحَjoking مُجتَنِباavoiding it
خَلِّ عَنكَ المَزحَ مُجتَنِبا
إِنَّهُindeed, it يُدنيbrings near لَكَto you العَطَباruin
إِنَّهُ يُدني لَكَ العَطَبا
Leave joking aside, keeping clear of it;
Abandon jesting, keep away,
for it brings ruin near to you.
It but draws ruin on its prey.
رُبَّmany a مَنone who كانَتwas مَنِيَّتُهُhis death
رُبَّ مَن كانَت مَنِيَّتُهُ
فيin مُزاحٍa jest هاجَهُhe stirred it up لَعِباin play
في مُزاحٍ هاجَهُ لَعِبا
Many a person met his death
Full many a one, his end was wrought
in a jest he stirred up in play.
By sport, to earnest fury brought.
Sol 6.1