توقّBe wary فخزّانfor the keepers of الكلامspeech قليلُfew
توقّ فخزّان الكلام قليلُ
وأكثرand most أقوالsayings of السفالthe base فضولidle talk
وأكثر أقوال السفال فضول
Be on your guard—for the keepers of speech are few,
Be wary, for those who guard their speech are few.
And most of what the vulgar say is idle impertinence.
And most sayings of the base are idle talk.
علىaccording to قدرthe measure of ماwhat يخشىfears الفتىthe young man منof معرّةdisgrace
على قدر ما يخشى الفتى من معرّة
يلُجّpersists بهagainst him الجهّالthe ignorant وهوthough he is جليلnoble
يلُجّ به الجهّال وهو جليل
The more a man fears disgrace,
The more a young man fears disgrace,
The more the ignorant persist against him, though he is noble.
the more the ignorant harass him, though he is noble.
تصاونGuard your dignity وكنand be فيon جانبthe side of البرrighteousness والتقىand piety
تصاون وكن في جانب البر والتقى
فليسَfor there is no إلىto أنthat لاnot يقالbe said سبيلway
فليسَ إلى أن لا يقال سبيل
Guard yourself, and remain on the side of righteousness and piety,
Guard your dignity, and stand on the side of righteousness and piety,
For there is no way to ensure that nothing will be said.
For there is no way to avoid being talked about.
