مولايَ ما اسمٌ لناحلٍ دنف

مولايَ ما اسمٌ لناحلٍ دنف

وما به لا أذًى ولا سَقم

وما به لا أذًى ولا سَقم

My lord, what is the name of one wasted and ailing,

My Master, what is the name of a wasp's sting?

Yet suffering neither harm nor sickness?

It brings neither harm nor sickness.

لسان قومٍ فإن حذفت وإن

لسان قومٍ فإن حذفت وإن

صحفت بعض الحروف فهو فم

صحفت بعض الحروف فهو فم

A people's tongue—if you delete, and if

Yet when the tongues of men omit some letters,

You alter the dots of some letters, it is a mouth.

Or mispronounce some words, it becomes a poisonous sting.