حُسنٌ لِنُطقِكَ بادِئاً وَمُجاوِباً

وَلِكُلِّ فَظٍّ في المَقالِ تَمَلَّقِ

Beautiful is your speech, both beginning and answering,

And flattering in every rude expression in discourse,

وَاِحذَر بَلاءً يَبتَليكَ بِلَفظَةٍ

إِنَّ البَلاءَ موكَلٌ بِالمَنطِقِ

And beware an affliction that tries you with a word,

Indeed affliction is entrusted with speech