وَخَيَّرَنيand he gave me a choice ذوthe lord of البُؤسِwoe فيon يَومِthe day of بُؤسِهِhis woe
وَخَيَّرَني ذو البُؤسِ في يَومِ بُؤسِهِ
خِصالاًchoices أَرىI see فيin كُلِّهاall of them المَوتَdeath قَدalready بَرَقhas flashed
خِصالاً أَرى في كُلِّها المَوتَ قَد بَرَق
And the lord of woe gave me a choice on his day of woe:
The wretched one offered me on his wretched day,
choices in each of which I see that death has already flashed.
Choices where death gleamed in each one's glare,
كَماjust as خُيِّرَتwas given a choice عادٌ'Ad مِنَin الدَهرِtime مَرَّةًonce
كَما خُيِّرَت عادٌ مِنَ الدَهرِ مَرَّةً
سَحائِبَclouds ماno فيهاin them لِذيfor one with خيرَةٍa choice أَنَقdelight
سَحائِبَ ما فيها لِذي خيرَةٍ أَنَق
As 'Ad was once given a choice in days gone by:
As Aad was once offered by fate,
clouds with no delight in them for anyone choosing—
Clouds with no gentle rain for one spoiled of choice to pick,
سَحائِبَclouds ريحٍwind لَمnot تُوَكَّلwere entrusted بِبَلدَةٍwith a town
سَحائِبَ ريحٍ لَم تُوَكَّل بِبَلدَةٍ
فَتَترُكَهاand then leave it إِلّاexcept كَماlike لَيلَةِa night of الطَلَقcalm, clear weather
فَتَترُكَها إِلّا كَما لَيلَةِ الطَلَق
clouds of wind, never set upon a town
Clouds of wind not charged with any land,
without leaving it like a calm, clear night.
That they'd spare, save a night of pouring hail.
Sol 6.1