ظُلامَةَthe grievance of مَنone who أَعَدَّكَheld you in reserve لِلَّياليagainst the nights
ظُلامَةَ مَن أَعَدَّكَ لِلَّيالي
وَمَنand one who أَثنىpraised بِفَضلِكَfor your excellence غَيرَwithout آلِstinting
وَمَن أَثنى بِفَضلِكَ غَيرَ آلِ
The grievance of one who held you in reserve against the nights,
Darkness, who readied you for the nights?
and praised your excellence without stint.
And who but the virtuous extolled your favor?
أَياO ثِقَةَtrusted one of الثِقاتِthe trusted أَصِخlisten فُواقاًfor a moment
أَيا ثِقَةَ الثِقاتِ أَصِخ فُواقاً
لِتَسمَعَso you may hear ماwhat يَشُقُّweighs heavily عَلىupon المَعاليnobility
لِتَسمَعَ ما يَشُقُّ عَلى المَعالي
O trusted one of the trusted, listen for a moment,
O most trusted of trusts, prick up your ears,
to hear what weighs heavily upon nobility.
To hear what vexes the exalted.
أَماam ... not أَناI مُثبِتُthe establisher of الحُجَجِthe proofs القَواضيdecisive
أَما أَنا مُثبِتُ الحُجَجِ القَواضي
لَكُمfor you بِالمَجدِof glory فيin الحِجَجِthe years الخَواليbygone
لَكُم بِالمَجدِ في الحِجَجِ الخَوالي
Am I not the one who establishes decisive proofs
As for me, I assert compelling proofs
of your glory in bygone years,
Of your glory in eloquent arguments.
وَمُفرِدُكُمand singling you out لِلاfor no سَبَبٍreason بِشُكرٍwith gratitude
وَمُفرِدُكُم لِلا سَبَبٍ بِشُكرٍ
تَعالَمَهُhave all known it المُعاديthe adversary وَالمُواليand the ally
تَعالَمَهُ المُعادي وَالمُوالي
and singles you out, unprompted, for gratitude
You alone, for God's sake with gratitude,
known to foe and friend alike?
Are known to friend and foe alike.
ثَناءٌpraise لَمnot أَشُبهُdid I mingle it بِاِختِلاقِwith fabrication
ثَناءٌ لَم أَشُبهُ بِاِختِلاقِ
وَوَصفٌand a portrayal لَمnot أَشِنهُdid I blemish it بِاِنتِحالِwith plagiarism
وَوَصفٌ لَم أَشِنهُ بِاِنتِحالِ
Praise I have not mingled with fabrication,
My praise is not fabricated,
and a portrayal I have not sullied with plagiarism.
Nor my depiction forged from fantasies.
إِلَيكُمto you دونَapart from ذاthese الخَلقِpeople اِعتِزائيmy allegiance
إِلَيكُم دونَ ذا الخَلقِ اِعتِزائي
وَعَنكُمand from you كانَwas صَدّيmy turning away وَاِعتِزاليand my withdrawal
وَعَنكُم كانَ صَدّي وَاِعتِزالي
To you alone, apart from all these people, belongs my allegiance;
To you beyond all people my pride clings,
and it was from you that I turned away and withdrew.
From you my resolve and seclusion sprang.
وَقَدand indeed سَمِعَhave heard الوَرىthe people فيin كُلِّevery أَرضٍland
وَقَد سَمِعَ الوَرى في كُلِّ أَرضٍ
وَلَيسَand is not المَينُlying مِنamong شِيَميmy traits مَقاليmy words
وَلَيسَ المَينُ مِن شِيَمي مَقالي
People in every land have heard
The world has heard in every land
my words—and lying is not among my traits:
That vileness is no trait of mine.
إِذاwhen ذُكِرَare mentioned البُيوتُthe houses عَداexcepting قُصَيّاًQusayy
إِذا ذُكِرَ البُيوتُ عَدا قُصَيّاً
فَآلُthen the family of أَبيAbu عَقيلٍAqil خَيرُthe finest آلِfamily
فَآلُ أَبي عَقيلٍ خَيرُ آلِ
When houses are named, Qusayy apart,
When houses but Qusay's are named,
the house of Abu Aqil is the finest house.
The family of Abi Uqayl is best.
وَأَنتَand you أَعَزُّهُمtheir mightiest جاراًin your neighbor وَنَفساًand in yourself
وَأَنتَ أَعَزُّهُم جاراً وَنَفساً
وَأَغلَبُهُمand their foremost عَلىin شَرَفِnobility of الخِلالِcharacter traits
وَأَغلَبُهُم عَلى شَرَفِ الخِلالِ
You are their mightiest, in yourself and those you shelter,
You are their noblest kin and soul,
and surpass them all in nobility of character.
And strongest in honorable traits.
عَلَوتَهُمُyou surpassed them بَناناًin fingertips فيin العَطاياgifts
عَلَوتَهُمُ بَناناً في العَطايا
وَفُتَّهُمُand you outstripped them ثَباتاًin steadfastness فيin النِضالِcombat
وَفُتَّهُمُ ثَباتاً في النِضالِ
Your fingers surpassed theirs in bestowing gifts,
Your heights excel their gifts,
and you outstripped them in steadfastness in combat.
Your steadfastness surpasses theirs in strife.
أَلَستَare you not اِبنَthe son of المُنَبّيthe one revealing عَنabout سَجاياinborn traits
أَلَستَ اِبنَ المُنَبّي عَن سَجايا
بِهِنَّthrough which تَفاوَتَتdiffered قِيَمُthe worth of الرِجالِmen
بِهِنَّ تَفاوَتَت قِيَمُ الرِجالِ
Are you not the son of one who revealed the qualities
Are you not the son of Munabbih, whose merits
by which the worth of men is distinguished?
Mark the worth of all men thereafter?
يَظَلُّby day remains جَنابُهُhis precinct مَأوىa refuge for الأَمانيhopes
يَظَلُّ جَنابُهُ مَأوى الأَماني
وَيُمسيand at evening becomes بابُهُhis door مَلقىa resting place for الرِحالِsaddles
وَيُمسي بابُهُ مَلقى الرِحالِ
By day his precinct is a refuge for hopes,
His abode remains hope's refuge,
and at evening his door is where saddles are set down.
His door where all journeys end.
يُحَكِّمُgives authority to فيover الذَخائِرِthe treasures سائِليهِthose who ask him
يُحَكِّمُ في الذَخائِرِ سائِليهِ
وَيَمنَعُهُمand shields them مِنَfrom الأَسَلِthe spears الطِوالِlong
وَيَمنَعُهُم مِنَ الأَسَلِ الطِوالِ
He gives his petitioners authority over his treasures,
To petitioners he rules with bounty.
and shields them from the long spears.
Saving them from hands grasping and long.
وَذاكَand that الوَفرُwealth بالٍspent وَهوَyet it is باقٍenduring
وَذاكَ الوَفرُ بالٍ وَهوَ باقٍ
بِهَذاthrough this الشُكرِgratitude باقٍenduring وَهوَthough it is بالِspent
بِهَذا الشُكرِ باقٍ وَهوَ بالِ
That wealth is spent, yet it endures;
Such plenty persists despite calamity,
through this gratitude it endures, though spent.
Lasting through gratitude despite the plight.
وَإِنَّكَand indeed you فيin اِكتِسابِearning الحَمدِpraise حَقّاًtruly
وَإِنَّكَ في اِكتِسابِ الحَمدِ حَقّاً
لِتَأتيsurely you come سابِقاًahead وَأَبوكَand your father تاليfollowing
لِتَأتي سابِقاً وَأَبوكَ تالي
And truly, in earning praise,
You truly gained praise through merit,
you come first, while your father follows.
A precursor, while your father trails behind.
تَحَيَّفَنيhas wronged me الزَمانُtime بِكُلِّin every فَنٍّway
تَحَيَّفَني الزَمانُ بِكُلِّ فَنٍّ
فَماso not أَنفَكُّdo I escape مِنfrom داءٍan affliction عُضالِintractable
فَما أَنفَكُّ مِن داءٍ عُضالِ
Time has wronged me in every way,
Time has diseased me with every art,
so I never escape an intractable affliction.
And ceaseless ills allow no rest.
وَأَعوَزَتِand became scarce الأَمانَةُtrustworthiness فيهِin it حَتّىuntil
وَأَعوَزَتِ الأَمانَةُ فيهِ حَتّى
تَخَوَّفَتِbecame fearful اليَمينُthe right hand مِنَof الشِمالِthe left hand
تَخَوَّفَتِ اليَمينُ مِنَ الشِمالِ
Trustworthiness has grown so scarce in it
Loyalty in it grew so sparse
that the right hand has come to fear the left.
That right and left hand guard against each other.
وَأَذهَبَand it wasted away كُلَّall ماthat which أَحويI possess ضَياعاًin waste
وَأَذهَبَ كُلَّ ما أَحوي ضَياعاً
فَهاso here أَناI ذاthis one بِنارِby the fire of الفَقرِpoverty صالِburning
فَها أَنا ذا بِنارِ الفَقرِ صالِ
It wasted away all that I possess,
All I possessed is lost,
so here I am, scorched by poverty's fire.
And here am I, inflamed by poverty.
وَقَدand indeed أَودَعتُI entrusted ماwhat أَبقىit left صَديقاًto a friend
وَقَد أَودَعتُ ما أَبقى صَديقاً
فَعَرَّضتُso I exposed البَقِيَّةَthe remainder لِلوَبالِto ruin
فَعَرَّضتُ البَقِيَّةَ لِلوَبالِ
I entrusted what it left me to a friend,
What little remained I gave a friend for safekeeping,
thus exposing the remainder to ruin.
Exposing the remnants to ruin.
وَقَصَّرَand he fell short عَنof أَمانَتِهِhis trust كَأَنّيas though I
وَقَصَّرَ عَن أَمانَتِهِ كَأَنّي
طَلَبتُhad sought الوَخدَa swift trot مِنfrom جَمَلٍa camel ثَقالِsluggish
طَلَبتُ الوَخدَ مِن جَمَلٍ ثَقالِ
He fell short of his trust, as though I
As if entrusting beauty to a lumbering camel,
had asked a sluggish camel for a swift trot.
Seeking smoothness from roughness personified.
فَلاso do not تَركُنrely إِلىon زَمَنٍa time خَؤونٍtreacherous
فَلا تَركُن إِلى زَمَنٍ خَؤونٍ
لِآمِلِهِtoward one hoping in it سَريعِswift in الإِنتِقالِchange
لِآمِلِهِ سَريعِ الإِنتِقالِ
Do not rely on a time that betrays
So do not cling to ominous times,
those who hope in it, and is swift to change.
Swift to change the hopeful's state.
فَماfor whatever يَكُmay be فيهِin it مِنof خَيرٍgood وَشَرٍّand evil
فَما يَكُ فيهِ مِن خَيرٍ وَشَرٍّ
قَليلُshort اللَبثِduration مُنتَظَرُexpected الزَوالِdisappearance
قَليلُ اللَبثِ مُنتَظَرُ الزَوالِ
For whatever good or evil it contains
In them, of good and evil, a little lingers,
is brief in duration, its passing expected.
Quick to pass, soon to decline.
لَقَدindeed ضَلَّwent astray اِمرُؤٌa man رامَsought اِهتِضاميwronging me
لَقَد ضَلَّ اِمرُؤٌ رامَ اِهتِضامي
وَلَستُand I am not مُشايِعاًsiding with أَهلَthe people of الضَلالِerror
وَلَستُ مُشايِعاً أَهلَ الضَلالِ
A man who sought to wrong me has indeed gone astray,
A man has strayed, aspiring to subdue me,
and I do not side with those who go astray.
Yet I accompany no people astray.
وَأَقدَمَand ventured مَنone who بَغىsought إِغضابَto anger مِثليone like me
وَأَقدَمَ مَن بَغى إِغضابَ مِثلي
عَلىupon أَمرٍa matter ثَناهُthat laid him down عَلىupon مِثالِa bed
عَلى أَمرٍ ثَناهُ عَلى مِثالِ
He who sought to anger a man like me ventured
He who sought to provoke one such as I
upon a course that laid him low upon a bed.
Proceeded on a course his like proscribed.
وَتِلكَand that حُكومَةٌis a judgment عَزَّتwas difficult مَراماًto attain
وَتِلكَ حُكومَةٌ عَزَّت مَراماً
فَماso not خَطَرَتdid it occur لِذيto one guilty of ظُلمٍinjustice بِبالِin mind
فَما خَطَرَت لِذي ظُلمٍ بِبالِ
And that is a judgment hard to attain,
That is a rule whose might revered ambition,
never having crossed a wrongdoer's mind.
Never occurring to the unjust of mind.
سَقىmay water ذوthe Possessor of العَرشِthe Throne رُهبانَthe monks of النَصارىthe Christians
سَقى ذو العَرشِ رُهبانَ النَصارى
وَجادَهُمُand drench them بِمُنهَلِّwith pouring العَزاليwaterskin spouts
وَجادَهُمُ بِمُنهَلِّ العَزالي
May the Lord of the Throne send rain upon the Christian monks,
The Lord of the Throne sustained Christian monks,
and drench them with rain from gushing spouts!
Blessed them from asceticism's spring.
فَماfor not مَنَعواdid they withhold الوَدائِعَthe deposits مودِعيهاfrom their depositors
فَما مَنَعوا الوَدائِعَ مودِعيها
لِضَربٍfor a kind مِنof ضُروبِthe kinds of الإِعتِلالِexcuse-making
لِضَربٍ مِن ضُروبِ الإِعتِلالِ
For they did not withhold deposits from their depositors
They refused no deposits by their keepers,
on any sort of pretext,
For any kind of questionable gain.
وَلاnor شَدّواdid they close أَكُفَّهُمُtheir hands عَلَيهاover them
وَلا شَدّوا أَكُفَّهُمُ عَلَيها
لِتُؤخَذَto be recovered بِالخُصومَةِthrough litigation وَالجِدالِand dispute
لِتُؤخَذَ بِالخُصومَةِ وَالجِدالِ
nor close their hands over them,
Nor did they clench fists over them,
so that they must be reclaimed through litigation and dispute.
To seize through lawsuit and contention.
كَتَبتُI wrote إِلَيهِto him أَعطِفُهُseeking to move him بِذُلٍّwith humility
كَتَبتُ إِلَيهِ أَعطِفُهُ بِذُلٍّ
فَأَضرَبَbut he turned away عَنfrom مَقالٍspeech أَوor فِعالِaction
فَأَضرَبَ عَن مَقالٍ أَو فِعالِ
I wrote to him, humbly seeking to move him,
I wrote him gently dissuading,
but he refused either speech or action.
But he ignored any words or deeds,
وَماand not قَرَأَdid he read الكِتابَthe letter وَلاnor كِتاباًa book
وَما قَرَأَ الكِتابَ وَلا كِتاباً
بِهِthrough which عُرِفَwas distinguished الحَرامُthe forbidden مِنَfrom الحَلالِthe lawful
بِهِ عُرِفَ الحَرامُ مِنَ الحَلالِ
He read neither the letter nor a book
Read no Scripture, nor any book,
by which the forbidden is distinguished from the lawful.
By which the lawful is known from forbidden.
وَماand not أُسميهِdo I name him إِبقاءًto preserve لِوُدٍّan affection
وَما أُسميهِ إِبقاءً لِوُدٍّ
سَلاhe forgot عَنهُabout it وَماand not أَناI عَنهُof it سالِforgetful
سَلا عَنهُ وَما أَنا عَنهُ سالِ
I do not name him, to preserve an affection
I named him not, to keep affection,
he has forgotten, though I have not,
But asked him not, nor he me.
وَإِنand even if كانَis الوِدادُaffection اليَومَtoday بَينَamong الthe
وَإِن كانَ الوِدادُ اليَومَ بَينَ ال
رِجالِmen كَوُدِّlike the affection of رَبّاتِthe ladies of الحِجالِcurtained chambers
رِجالِ كَوُدِّ رَبّاتِ الحِجالِ
even if affection today among the
If intimacy among men today is like love
men is like that of the ladies of curtained chambers.
Between lizard and wall, what of it?
وَلَمّاand when سيلَhe was asked فِيَّon my behalf وَفاضَand overflowed جوداًin generosity
وَلَمّا سيلَ فِيَّ وَفاضَ جوداً
أَحالَhe resorted عَلىto التَعَلُّلِexcuses وَالمِطالِand procrastination
أَحالَ عَلى التَعَلُّلِ وَالمِطالِ
When he was asked on my behalf and overflowed with generosity,
When his flood surged, pouring generosity,
he resorted to excuses and delay.
He turned to excuses and delays.
فَشَدَّso he strengthened بِذاby this قُوىًpowers ضَعُفَتthat had weakened حَياءًfrom modesty
فَشَدَّ بِذا قُوىً ضَعُفَت حَياءً
وَسَدَّand blocked طَريقَthe path of صَبريmy patience وَاِحتِماليand my endurance
وَسَدَّ طَريقَ صَبري وَاِحتِمالي
Thus he reinforced strength that modesty had weakened,
So he gained by weakness what timidity lost,
and blocked the path of my patience and endurance.
Closing off my path of patience and endurance.
وَأَنتَand you إِذاwhen عَداattacks باغٍa wrongdoer سِلاحيmy weapon الthe
وَأَنتَ إِذا عَدا باغٍ سِلاحي ال
حَصينُimpregnable وَإِنand if عَراbefalls خَطبٌa calamity ثِماليmy refuge
حَصينُ وَإِن عَرا خَطبٌ ثِمالي
When a wrongdoer attacks, you are my weapon—
While you, if any foe attacks my arms,
impregnable—and my refuge when calamity strikes.
Are an unassailable fortress, though fate assails me.
وَأَمرُكَand your command نافِذٌis effective فيناamong us فَأَطلِقso release
وَأَمرُكَ نافِذٌ فينا فَأَطلِق
بِمَحضِby pure العَدلِjustice حَقّيmy rightful claim مِنfrom عِقالِa tether
بِمَحضِ العَدلِ حَقّي مِن عِقالِ
Your command holds sway among us; so release
Your command permeates us, so deliver
my right from its tether through pure justice.
My due, for justice' sake untainted.
فَإِنَّكَfor indeed you لاdo not تَمَلُّtire of العَدلَjustice بَينَbetween الthe
فَإِنَّكَ لا تَمَلُّ العَدلَ بَينَ ال
خُصومِlitigants وَلاnor تَميلُincline وَلاnor تُماليfavor a side
خُصومِ وَلا تَميلُ وَلا تُمالي
For you never weary of justice between the
You do not tire of even justice among disputants,
litigants; you neither incline nor take sides.
Nor lean to one side, nor favor.
لَقَدindeed آلَتhas brought بِيَme الدُنياthe world فَقُبحاًso shame
لَقَد آلَت بِيَ الدُنيا فَقُبحاً
لِماupon what صَنَعَتit has done إِلىto هَذاthis المَآلِoutcome
لِما صَنَعَت إِلى هَذا المَآلِ
The world has brought me—shame
Oh how time has vilified me, for what it did,
on what it has done!—to this plight.
To this wretched state and bitter end!
وَغالَand ravaged الدَهرُtime مَنزِلَتيmy standing وَوَفريand my wealth
وَغالَ الدَهرُ مَنزِلَتي وَوَفري
فَأَرخَصَso it cheapened مِنof مَديحيmy praise كُلَّall غالِthat was precious
فَأَرخَصَ مِن مَديحي كُلَّ غالِ
Time has ravaged my standing and wealth,
And the days made light of my status and plenty,
and cheapened all that was precious in my praise.
Deeming my praises cheaper than all that's cheap.
مَضىhave passed away الكُرَماءُthe generous صانواthey preserved ماءَthe water of وَجهيmy face
مَضى الكُرَماءُ صانوا ماءَ وَجهي
بِماby what بَذَلوهُthey bestowed عَنfrom ذُلِّthe humiliation of السُؤالِasking
بِما بَذَلوهُ عَن ذُلِّ السُؤالِ
Gone are the generous men who preserved my honor,
The generous are gone, guarding my face,
by their gifts, from the humiliation of asking.
With what they spent safe from vile begging.
وَهاand here أَناI بَعدَهُمafter them فيamong الناسِthe people أَبغيseek
وَها أَنا بَعدَهُم في الناسِ أَبغي
كَريماًa generous man يَشتَريwho buys شُكريmy gratitude بِماليwith my own money
كَريماً يَشتَري شُكري بِمالي
Now, after them, I seek among people
Now after them among the people I seek
a generous man who will buy my gratitude with my own money.
A generous one to buy my gratitude with wealth.
أَرىI see الأَكدارَthe murky waters يَشرَقُchoke شارِبوهاthose drinking them
أَرى الأَكدارَ يَشرَقُ شارِبوها
فَواشَرَقيso alas for my choking مِنَon الماءِthe water الزُلالِcrystal-clear
فَواشَرَقي مِنَ الماءِ الزُلالِ
I see drinkers choking on murky waters;
I see the base shining bright, their drinkers beaming.
but alas, I choke on crystal-clear water!
While my gleam from pure water is denied.
لَعَلَّكَperhaps you ياO اِبنَson of عَبدِAbd (servant of) اللَهِAllah (God) تَرعىwill honor
لَعَلَّكَ يا اِبنَ عَبدِ اللَهِ تَرعى
قَديمَlongstanding الوُدِّaffection أَوor تَرثيpity لِحاليfor my plight
قَديمَ الوُدِّ أَو تَرثي لِحالي
Perhaps, O son of Abd Allah, you will honor
Perhaps, son of Abdullah, you will heed
our old affection, or pity my plight.
Long affection, or lament my state,
وَلاand do not تَحبِسwithhold جَميلَكَyour kindness عَنfrom مُوالٍone devoted
وَلا تَحبِس جَميلَكَ عَن مُوالٍ
لَكُمto you وَلِنَشرِand to spreading فَضلِكُمُyour excellence مُواليdevoted
لَكُم وَلِنَشرِ فَضلِكُمُ مُوالي
Do not withhold your kindness from one devoted
And not withhold your bounty from a loyal one,
to you, and devoted to spreading your excellence.
To you, and spreading your superior merit.
وَفيand in الأَمرَينِthe two courses مِنof مَنعٍwithholding وَبَذلٍand giving
وَفي الأَمرَينِ مِن مَنعٍ وَبَذلٍ
فَإِنّيfor I شاكِرٌam grateful فيin كُلِّevery حالِcircumstance
فَإِنّي شاكِرٌ في كُلِّ حالِ
Whether you withhold or bestow,
In both withholding and giving
I am grateful in either case.
I am thankful, in any case.
وَماذاand what القَولُspeech تَمهيداًas groundwork لِظُلميfor wronging me
وَماذا القَولُ تَمهيداً لِظُلمي
وَمِثلُكَand one like you لاdoes not يَميلُincline إِلىtoward المِحالِfalsehood
وَمِثلُكَ لا يَميلُ إِلى المِحالِ
What can words do to pave the way for wronging me,
Why speak more of my injustice?
when one like you does not lean toward falsehood?
One like you inclines not to the absurd.
وَلَيسَand is not بِغامِضٍobscure وَأَبيكَby your father أَمريmy affair
وَلَيسَ بِغامِضٍ وَأَبيكَ أَمري
فَأَنسُبَهُso I might ascribe it إِلىto جَورِthe injustice of اللَياليthe nights
فَأَنسُبَهُ إِلى جَورِ اللَيالي
My case, by your father, is not so obscure
My affair is clear, not opaque, though your father's is,
that I should blame it on the injustice of the nights.
So I attribute it to the injustice of time.
وَلَولاand were it not for فاقَةٌpoverty فاقَتthat overwhelmed فَعاقَتand so hindered
وَلَولا فاقَةٌ فاقَت فَعاقَت
لَصُنتُI would have spared عُلاكَyour eminence عَنfrom هَذاthis المَقالِspeech
لَصُنتُ عُلاكَ عَن هَذا المَقالِ
Were it not for poverty that overwhelmed and hindered me,
If it weren't for want, that grew and raged,
I would have spared your eminence this speech.
I'd have shielded your loftiness from this talk.
سَأَترُكُI shall leave ذيthese البِلادِlands بِلاwithout اِختِيارٍchoice
سَأَترُكُ ذي البِلادِ بِلا اِختِيارٍ
وَأَهجُرُand abandon أَهلَهاtheir people لاnot عَنout of تَقالِmutual aversion
وَأَهجُرُ أَهلَها لا عَن تَقالِ
I shall leave these lands against my will,
I will reluctantly leave this land,
and abandon their people, not from mutual aversion,
Not by choice, and abandon its people.
بِحالٍin a plight لَوif تَأَمَّلَهاhe contemplated it عَدُوّيmy enemy
بِحالٍ لَو تَأَمَّلَها عَدُوّي
لَساهَمَنيhe would share with me الرَزِيَّةَthe calamity أَوor رَثىshow pity ليto me
لَساهَمَني الرَزِيَّةَ أَو رَثى لي
in a plight which, if my enemy considered it,
In a state, if my enemy but saw it,
he would share my calamity or pity me.
He would grieve for me, or mourn me.
فَزَوِّدنيso provision me بِماwith what تَأتيyou do حَديثاًa tale
فَزَوِّدني بِما تَأتي حَديثاً
سَيُروىwill be recounted فيin العِراقِIraq وَفيand in الشَمالِthe north
سَيُروى في العِراقِ وَفي الشَمالِ
So let what you do furnish me with a tale
So provide me with sufficient provisions
to be recounted in Iraq and the north.
To be talked of in Iraq and Syria alike.
فَإِنّيfor I فُقتُsurpassed غَيلاناًGhaylan مَقالاًin speech
فَإِنّي فُقتُ غَيلاناً مَقالاً
يَسيرُthat travels وَأَنتَand you أَكرَمُare more generous مِنthan بِلالِBilal
يَسيرُ وَأَنتَ أَكرَمُ مِن بِلالِ
For I have surpassed Ghaylan in verse
For I have been impoverished of camels and speech,
that travels, and you are more generous than Bilal.
While you are more generous than Bilal.
أَدامَmay preserve لَكَfor you العُلىexalted rank وَالنَصرَand victory مَولىًa Lord
أَدامَ لَكَ العُلى وَالنَصرَ مَولىً
إِلَيهِto whom فيin حِراسَتِكَyour protection اِبتِهاليmy fervent prayer
إِلَيهِ في حِراسَتِكَ اِبتِهالي
May the Lord preserve for you eminence and victory,
May God, to whom in your protection is my plea,
to whom I pray fervently for your protection.
Grant you enduring supremacy and triumph!
Sol 6.1