تَوَخَّseek out منamong الطرقِthe paths أوساطَهاtheir middle courses
تَوَخَّ من الطرقِ أوساطَها
وعَدِّand turn away عنfrom الجانِبِthe side المُشتَبِهthat is doubtful
وعَدِّ عن الجانِبِ المُشتَبِه
Seek the middle courses among the paths,
and turn away from the doubtful side.
وسَمعَكَand your hearing صُنguard عنfrom سَماعِhearing القبيحِfoul speech
وسَمعَكَ صُن عن سَماعِ القبيحِ
كَصَونِlike guarding اللسانِthe tongue عنfrom النطقِspeaking بهof it
كَصَونِ اللسانِ عن النطقِ به
And guard your hearing from listening to foul speech,
as you guard your tongue from uttering it.
فإنكfor indeed you عندَwhen سماعِhearing القبيحِfoul speech
فإنك عندَ سماعِ القبيحِ
شريكٌa partner لقائِلِهِwith its speaker فانتَبِهso take heed
شريكٌ لقائِلِهِ فانتَبِه
For when you hear foul speech,
you are a partner to its speaker—so take heed.