Whoever fails to reach the exalted court, it comes from black luck and an unlucky tongue.
A man who has never once prayed in his whole life, no doubt, will never rise to lead the prayer.
Explanation: The imam here is the one who leads communal prayer; the point is that reward matches effort. 'Black luck' is a Persian idiom for wretched fortune.
Original · Persian
شمارهٔ ۱۶
هر کس که به بارگاه سامی نرسد
از بخت سیاه و بد کلامی نرسد
همگر که به عمر خود نکردست نماز
شک نیست که همگر به امامی نرسد