اِحْذَرBeware of الهَزْلjesting وجانبْand shun أهلَهits practitioners
اِحْذَر الهَزْل وجانبْ أهلَه
اِنهindeed it يُنْقِصُdiminishes منْfrom قَدْرِthe standing of النَّبيلْthe noble person
اِنه يُنْقِصُ منْ قَدْرِ النَّبيلْ
Beware of jesting, and shun its practitioners.
Avoid jesters and shun their company
Indeed, it detracts from a noble person's standing.
For joking diminishes a noble's dignity
اِنْif تُجبْyou answer أوor لاnot تُجِبْyou answer قائلَهُits speaker
اِنْ تُجبْ أو لا تُجِبْ قائلَهُ
فسفِيهٌthen a fool أنتَyou منهُof his kind أوor ذَيلْa tail; a hanger-on
فسفِيهٌ أنتَ منهُ أو ذَيلْ
Whether you answer the one who utters it or not,
Whether you answer or fail to respond
You are then a fool like him, or a mere tail.
You become foolish like them, or their appendage
Sol 6.1