لَهُ قَلَمٌ كَقَضاءِ الإِلاَ

لَهُ قَلَمٌ كَقَضاءِ الإِلاَ

ه فَبِالسَّعْدِ طوراً وبِالنَّحْسِ ماضِ

ه فَبِالسَّعْدِ طوراً وبِالنَّحْسِ ماضِ

He has a pen like the decree of God—

He has a pen like the decree of God:

He has a pen like the decree of God

now proceeding with good fortune, now with ill;

now with good fortune, now with ill, it takes effect.

At times with good fortune, at others with misfortune's command

وما فَارَقَ الأُسْدَ في حَالَتَيْ

وما فَارَقَ الأُسْدَ في حَالَتَيْ

هِ يَبيساً وذا وَرَقاتٍ غِضاضِ

هِ يَبيساً وذا وَرَقاتٍ غِضاضِ

it never leaves the lions in either of its two states:

And it has never left the lions in either of its two states:

The lion in both his conditions never parted

dry, or bearing tender leaves.

dry, or bearing tender leaves.

From being formidable when dry, and soft when green

فَفي كَفِّ لَيْثِ العُلى للنَّدى

فَفي كَفِّ لَيْثِ العُلى للنَّدى

وفي وَجْهِ لَيْثِ الشَّرى في الغِياضِ

وفي وَجْهِ لَيْثِ الشَّرى في الغِياضِ

In the hand of the lion of lofty glory, for generous giving,

So, in the palm of the lion of glory, for generosity,

So in the paw of the noble lion is gentleness for the dew

and before the lion of al-Sharā, amid the thickets.

and before the face of the lion of Shara, in the thickets.

And in the face of the evil lion, fierceness in the thickets