إِذا سَكَتَ الإِنسانُ قَلَّت خُصومُهُ

وَإِن أَضجَعَتهُ الحادِثاتُ لِجَنبِهِ

When a man is silent, his foes are few

Though events confine him bed-ridden awhile

حَسا طامِرٌ في صَمتِهِ مِن دَمِ الفَتى

فَصَغَّرَ ذاكَ الصَمتُ مُعظَمَ ذَنبِهِ

Yet he tastes life’s blood in his quietude

As silence thus lessens his major sin

وَلَم يَكُ في حالِ البَعوضِ إِذا شَدا

لَهُ نَغَمٌ عالٍ وَأَنتَ أَذٍ بِهِ

A gnat’s buzz, when it stings, has no melody

While you are pained by its vicious sting

وَإِن سَلَّ سَيفاً مِن كَلامٍ مُسَفَّهٌ

عَلَيكَ فَقابِلهُ بِصَبرِكَ تُنبِهِ

If a fool assails you with blabbering blade

Counter it with your patience, give him no heed