ياO لحظهhis glance الفتّاكdeadly رفقاًgently بامرئٍwith a man
يا لحظه الفتّاك رفقاً بامرئٍ
يقضيpasses judgment عليهagainst him تيقظwakefulness ومنامand sleep
يقضي عليه تيقظ ومنام
O his deadly glance, be gentle with a man
O murderous moment, have mercy on a man
whom wakefulness and sleep doom.
Whose waking and sleeping bring his end.
فإذاso when تنبهhe wakes رعتهyou frighten him وإذاand when غفاhe dozes
فإذا تنبه رعته وإذا غفا
سلتunsheathe عليهagainst him سيوفكyour swords الأحكامthe decrees
سلت عليه سيوفك الأحكام
So when he wakes, you frighten him; and when he dozes,
When he's alert, go gently on him,
the decrees unsheathe your swords against him.
And when he sleeps, put away your swords.
Sol 6.1