إِن كُنتَ تَرتادُ مَنظَراً عَجَباً

إِن كُنتَ تَرتادُ مَنظَراً عَجَباً

فَاِنظُر إِلى البَدرِ في يَدِ القِردِ

فَاِنظُر إِلى البَدرِ في يَدِ القِردِ

If you seek a wondrous sight,

If you seek an astonishing sight,

look at the full moon in the monkey’s hand;

Then look at the full moon in the monkey's hand.

وَاِنظُر إِلى الضَبِّ كَيفَ يَفتَرِسُ الظَ

وَاِنظُر إِلى الضَبِّ كَيفَ يَفتَرِسُ الظَ

بيَ عَلى مَرقَدٍ مِنَ الوَردِ

بيَ عَلى مَرقَدٍ مِنَ الوَردِ

and look at the lizard—how it devours the ga-

And look at the spiny-tailed lizard, how it devours the ga-

zelle upon a bed of roses.

zelle upon a bed of roses.

وَذُمَّ دَهراً يُفيضُ أَنعُمَهُ

وَذُمَّ دَهراً يُفيضُ أَنعُمَهُ

عَلى اللَئيمِ المُذَمَّمِ الوَغدِ

عَلى اللَئيمِ المُذَمَّمِ الوَغدِ

Condemn an age that pours out its blessings

And condemn Time, which lavishes its blessings

upon the blameworthy, ignoble wretch;

On the base, reviled wretch.

وَاِنظُر إِلى حُمرِهِ وَآتُنِهِ

وَاِنظُر إِلى حُمرِهِ وَآتُنِهِ

فَوقَ مُتونِ السَوابِحِ الجَردِ

فَوقَ مُتونِ السَوابِحِ الجَردِ

and look at his he-asses and she-asses

And look at its he-asses and she-asses

astride the backs of sleek, close-cropped steeds.

On the backs of sleek, galloping steeds.

فَأَسخَنَ اللَهُ عَينَهُ زَمَناً

فَأَسخَنَ اللَهُ عَينَهُ زَمَناً

ماذا رَأى في تَجَنُّبِ القَصدِ

ماذا رَأى في تَجَنُّبِ القَصدِ

May God make his eyes weep for an age!

So may God make Time's eye burn!

What good did he see in forsaking the right course?

What did it see in shunning the right course?