فَضيلَةُ النُطقِ في الإِنسانِ تَمزُجُها

فَضيلَةُ النُطقِ في الإِنسانِ تَمزُجُها

نَقيصَةُ الكَذِبِ المَعدودِ في النِقَمِ

نَقيصَةُ الكَذِبِ المَعدودِ في النِقَمِ

The virtue of speech in humankind is mingled with

The virtue of speech in man is marred

the vice of lying, counted among afflictions.

By the vice of lying, counted among sins

أَصدُق إِلى أَن تَظُنَّ الصِدقَ مَهلَكَةً

أَصدُق إِلى أَن تَظُنَّ الصِدقَ مَهلَكَةً

وَعِندَ ذَلِكَ فَاِقعُد كاذِباً وَقُمِ

وَعِندَ ذَلِكَ فَاِقعُد كاذِباً وَقُمِ

Speak the truth until you deem truth a cause of death;

Speak truth until you think truth brings ruin

and then sit and rise telling lies.

Then sit, a liar, and rise up, yet be silent

فَالمَينُ ميتَةُ مُضطَرٍّ أَلَمَّ بِها

فَالمَينُ ميتَةُ مُضطَرٍّ أَلَمَّ بِها

وَالحَقُّ كَالماءِ يُجفى خيفَةَ السَقَمِ

وَالحَقُّ كَالماءِ يُجفى خيفَةَ السَقَمِ

For falsehood is carrion to which one in dire need has resorted,

Deceit is the death of one in distress

and truth, like water, is shunned for fear of sickness.

And truth like water dries up disease's tents