Evil toward the rights of both good and bad people

Do not speak, O noble man of wisdom

For you make the evil man your enemy

And if he is a good man, you do evil to him

Whoever tells you that such and such a person is bad

Know that he himself is wearing the cloak of evil

That the actions of such and such must be expressed

And from these actions, evil becomes clear

When you speak ill of people, as you have done

Even if you speak the truth, your words are still bad

A person spoke long of others behind their backs

A wise person, a proud scholar, said to him

Do not speak ill of others in my presence

Do not cast doubt on my regard for you

I understood that he had little regard for his own dignity

He will not gain anything from your position

Someone said, and I thought it was a noble comment

That theft is more organized than gossip

I said to him, 'O friend, troubled in mind'

This strange tale astonished my ears

What good do you see in unrighteousness?

Why do you elevate gossip in such a manner?

He replied, 'Yes, thieves act boldly'

They fill their bellies with the strength of a man’s arm

What does that simple man want from gossip?

He makes the dark world worse, yet consumes nothing!