كُلُّ مَن كانَ شَأنُهُ الاِنبِساطُ

كُلُّ مَن كانَ شَأنُهُ الاِنبِساطُ

لَيسَ يُطوى لِلقَدحِ فيهِ بِساطُ

لَيسَ يُطوى لِلقَدحِ فيهِ بِساطُ

For anyone whose habit is joviality,

He who is naturally inclined to jest,

the carpet laid out for disparaging him is never rolled up.

Will not easily take offense or get distressed.

رُبَّما أُوغِرَ الصُدورُ بِمَزحٍ

رُبَّما أُوغِرَ الصُدورُ بِمَزحٍ

لاحَ فيهِ الجَفا وَالاِشتِطاطُ

لاحَ فيهِ الجَفا وَالاِشتِطاطُ

Sometimes hearts are inflamed by a jest

Jests may sometimes chafe another's breast,

in which harshness and excess appear.

Revealing rancor that festered unexpressed.

فَاِقلِلِ المَزحَ ما اِستَطَعتَ وَلا تَأ

فَاِقلِلِ المَزحَ ما اِستَطَعتَ وَلا تَأ

تِ بِنَزرٍ إِلّا وَفيهِ اِحتِياطُ

تِ بِنَزرٍ إِلّا وَفيهِ اِحتِياطُ

So limit your joking as much as you can, and do not

So minimize your jests as best you can,

offer even a little unless it is done with care.

And only joke with care and caution's plan.

وَتَوَقَّ الإِفراطَ فيهِ فَقَد يُف

وَتَوَقَّ الإِفراطَ فيهِ فَقَد يُف

رِطُ في وَضعِ قَدرِكَ الإِفراطُ

رِطُ في وَضعِ قَدرِكَ الإِفراطُ

And beware of excess in it, for excess may

Excessive joking you must also ban,

go too far in lowering your standing.

Lest you diminish your worth in others' sight.