إِذا نَطَقَ السَفيهُ فَلا تَجِبهُ

إِذا نَطَقَ السَفيهُ فَلا تَجِبهُ

فَخَيرٌ مِن إِجابَتِهِ السُكوتُ

فَخَيرٌ مِن إِجابَتِهِ السُكوتُ

If a fool speaks, do not answer him;

When the fool speaks, do not answer him.

silence is better than replying to him.

For silence is better than answering him.

فَإِن كَلَّمتَهُ فَرَّجتَ عَنهُ

فَإِن كَلَّمتَهُ فَرَّجتَ عَنهُ

وَإِن خَلَّيتَهُ كَمَداً يَموتُ

وَإِن خَلَّيتَهُ كَمَداً يَموتُ

For if you speak to him, you bring him relief,

For if you speak to him, you relieve his distress.

but if you leave him be, he dies of chagrin.

And if you leave him alone, he dies of vexation.