The tongue is a beast of prey, if you let it free it will injure [you].
The tongue is a beast of prey, if you let it free it will injure [you]. 14ـ اَللِّسانُ سَبُعٌ إنْ أطْلَقْتَهُ عَقَرَ. The tongue is the gauge of a human being. 15ـ اَللِّسانُ ميزانُ الإنْسانِ. The tongues reveal that which is concealed by the inner consciences. 16ـ اَلاْلْسُنُ تُتَرْجِمُ عَمّا تَجُنُّهُ الضَّمائِرُ. The affliction of a human being is in his tongue. 17ـ بَلاءُ الإنْسانِ في لِسانِهِ.
The edge of a spearhead severs the appendages [of the body] whereas the edge of the tongue cuts short lifetimes. 18ـ حَدُّ السِّنانِ يَقْطَعُ الأوْصالَ، وحَدُّ اللِّسانِ يَقْطَعُ الآجالَ. The edge of the tongue is sharper than the edge of a spearhead. 19ـ حَدُّ اللِّسانِ أمْضى مِنْ حَدِّ السِّنانِ. Many a tongue destroys a person. 20ـ رُبَّ لِسان أتى عَلى إنْسان. The slip of the tongue is more harmful than the thrust of the spearhead. 21ـ زَلَّةُ اللِّسانِ أنْكى مِنْ إصابَةِ السِّنانِ.
The slip of the tongue is more severe than the injury caused by a spearhead. 22ـ زَلَّةُ اللِّسانِ أشَدُّ مِنْ جُرْحِ السِّنانِ. The slip of the tongue causes the greatest destruction. 23ـ زَلَّةُ اللِّسانِ أشَدُّ هَلاك. Restraining the tongue is [a means of attaining] fortune and authority while setting it free is [a cause of] destruction. 24ـ ضَبْطُ اللِّسانِ مُِلْكٌ وإطْلاقُهُ هُلْكٌ. The piercing of the tongue is more injurious than the piercing of the spear.
25ـ طَعْنُ اللِّسانِ أمَضُّ مِنْ طَعْـنِ السِّنانِ. Accustom your tongue to polite speech and you will remain safe from reproach. 26ـ عَوِّدْ لِسانَكَ حُسْنَ الكَلامِ تَأْمَنِ المَلامَ. It is very rare for the tongue to remain fair in spreading [news about] the ugly and the good acts [of others]. 27 ـ قَلَّما يُنْصِفُ اللِّسانُ في نَشْرِ قَبيح أوْ إحْسان. Set your tongue aright and you will be secure. 28ـ قَوِّمْ لِسانَكَ تَسْلَمْ.
Every person is held accountable for the offence committed by his tongue and his hand. 29ـ كُلُّ إنْسان مُؤاخَذٌ بِجِنايَةِ لِسانِهِ ويَدِهِ. How much blood has been spilt by the mouth![^2] 30ـ كَمْ مِنْ دَم سَفَكَهُ فَمٌ. How many a person has been destroyed by the tongue! 31ـ كَمْ مِنْ إنْسان أهْلَكَهُ لِسانٌ. The tongue of the intelligent person is behind his heart.[^3] 32ـ لِسانُ العاقِلِ وَراءَ قَلْبِهِ. The tongue of the ignorant person is the key to his destruction.
33ـ لِسانُ الجاهِلِ مِفْتاحُ حَتْفِهِ. Your tongue demands from you that which you have made it accustomed to. 34ـ لِسانُكَ يَقْتَضيكَ ما عَوَّدْتَهُ.
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