إن المنجّم يغتدي

إن المنجّم يغتدي

والحرف بين قماشه

والحرف بين قماشه

Indeed, the astrologer sets forth at dawn,

Indeed, the astrologer sets out in the morning,

with want amid his gear.

with destitution among his belongings.

فتراه في أصطلابه

فتراه في أصطلابه

وحسابه ورياشه

وحسابه ورياشه

You see him there with his astrolabe,

So you see him with his astrolabe,

his calculations, and his finery.

his calculations and his finery.

تقويمه قطب له

تقويمه قطب له

والفقر بين مشاشه

والفقر بين مشاشه

His almanac is the axis on which he turns,

His almanac is his axis,

while poverty dwells within his very bones.

while poverty lodges in his bones.

فإذا أصاب إلى التما

فإذا أصاب إلى التما

س الوقت في إكماشه

س الوقت في إكماشه

And when he sets himself to seek—

Then, if he succeeds in seek-

—ing the propitious hour in eager haste,

ing the hour in his haste,

فالخوف في أثوابه

فالخوف في أثوابه

والحرف حشو فراشه

والحرف حشو فراشه

fear then inhabits his garments,

then fear is within his garments,

and want is the stuffing of his bed.

and destitution stuffs his bedding.

يأبى الجليس لأنه

يأبى الجليس لأنه

في الحقّ هدم معاشه

في الحقّ هدم معاشه

He shuns a companion, for that companion

He shuns a companion, for that man

is, in truth, the ruin of his livelihood.

is truly the ruin of his livelihood.