إِنَّ القَليلَ مِنَ الكَلامِ بِأَهلِهِ

حسَنٌ وَإِنَّ كَثيرَهُ مَمقوتُ

A little speech is good from one who is worthy,

Indeed, brief speech from those worthy of it

Though much talk is disgusting.

Is excellent, while an excess of it is despised.

ما زَلَّ ذو صَمتٍ وَما مِن مُكثِرٍ

إِلّا يُزَلُّ وَما يُعابُ صَموتُ

Silent men ne'er err,

The keeper of silence has never slipped, nor is there one who speaks too much

While the talkative seldom are faultless.

Except that he is made to stumble, while the silent one is never blamed.

إِن كانَ يَنطِقُ ناطِقاً مِن فِضَّةٍ

فَالصَمتُ دُرٌّ زانَهُ ياقوتُ

If speech be of silver enchanting the ears,

If a speaker were to utter words of silver,

Silence is a pearl which a jeweller seeks.

Then silence is a pearl adorned with rubies.