أَحياهُrevived him بَعدَafter اللَهِGod إِذwhen حَيَّاهُgreeted him
أَحياهُ بَعدَ اللَهِ إِذ حَيَّاهُ
طَيفa phantom يُسرّيdispels الهَمّgrief عَنهُfrom him سُراهُits nightly journey
طَيف يُسرّي الهَمّ عَنهُ سُراهُ
It revived him, after God, when it greeted him—
He revived it after Allah when he revived it
a phantom whose nightly passage dispels his grief.
A ghost that dissipates worries from it, making it disappear
أَهدىbrought السَلامgreetings عَلىdespite تَنائيthe remoteness of أَرضِهِhis land
أَهدى السَلام عَلى تَنائي أَرضِهِ
ياO حَبَّذاhow welcome المُهدىthe gift ومنand the one who أَهداهُsent it
يا حَبَّذا المُهدى ومن أَهداهُ
It brought greetings despite the remoteness of his land.
He sent peace upon the heights of his land
How welcome the gift and the one who sent it!
Oh how excellent is the guided one and the one who guided him
أَهداهُsent it أَحوَرَa dark-eyed one مِنamong ظباءthe gazelles of تِهامَةٍTihama
أَهداهُ أَحوَرَ مِن ظباء تِهامَةٍ
كالظَبّيlike a gazelle الحاظthe glances of الظباءgazelles ظُباهُhis blade-points
كالظَبّي الحاظ الظباء ظُباهُ
A dark-eyed one among Tihama's gazelles sent it;
He guided him, more dexterous than the gazelles of Tihama
gazelle-like, his blade-points are the glances of gazelles.
Like the gazelle watching the gazelles, spying on them
كَلَّتgrew dull ملاحظُthe glances of مُقلتيهhis two eyes وَإِنَّماyet
كَلَّت ملاحظُ مُقلتيه وَإِنَّما
لحظthe glance of العُيونِeyes أَكلُّهits dullest أَمضاهُits keenest
لحظ العُيونِ أَكلُّه أَمضاهُ
His eyes' glances have grown dull; yet
My glances were exhausted, though they only
the dullest glance of eyes is the keenest.
Glanced at the eyes, their feasting consumed them
يُعديinfects وَلاand does not يزراهdiminish him سقمthe languor of جُفونِهِhis eyelids
يُعدي وَلا يزراه سقم جُفونِهِ
وَالسَيفand the sword لَيسَis not يَضرُّهُharmed حَدَّاهُby its two edges
وَالسَيف لَيسَ يَضرُّهُ حَدَّاهُ
His eyelids' languor infects others but does not mar him,
It transmits without any sickness of its eyelids harming it
and a sword is not harmed by its two edges.
And the sword cannot hurt its sharp edge
ماnot العَيشlife غيرother than جوارهhis company فيin رَوضَةٍa garden
ما العَيش غير جواره في رَوضَةٍ
يَنضافُmingles رَيّاهاits fragrance إِلىwith رَيّاهُhis fragrance
يَنضافُ رَيّاها إِلى رَيّاهُ
Life is nothing but his company in a garden
What is life without residing in a garden
whose fragrance mingles with his.
Whose streams add to its streams?
يَثنيbends النَسيمthe breeze الأُقحوانُthe daisies بِمِثلِهِtoward their like
يَثني النَسيم الأُقحوانُ بِمِثلِهِ
فيهاin it كَماas تَتَلاثَمexchange kisses الأَفواهُmouths
فيها كَما تَتَلاثَم الأَفواهُ
The breeze bends the daisies toward their fellows
The breeze makes the rosebay willowherbs flutter in it
there, as mouths exchange kisses.
As the mouths whisper to each other
نَفسيmy soul الفِداءthe ransom لَهُfor him عَلىdespite هِجرانِهِhis estrangement
نَفسي الفِداء لَهُ عَلى هِجرانِهِ
أَبَداًforever وَمَنand who ليfor me أَنthat أَكونI might be فِداهُhis ransom
أَبَداً وَمَن لي أَن أَكون فِداهُ
My soul is his ransom, despite his forsaking me,
My soul is sacrificed for him during his absence
forever—and who will let me be his ransom?
Forever, and who do I have that I can sacrifice for him?
أَستودعI entrust اللَهَGod الحِجازَthe Hijaz وَأَهلهand its people
أَستودع اللَهَ الحِجازَ وَأَهله
وَسَقاهمand may He water them سَيلَa torrent of الحَياrain وَسَقاهُand may He water it
وَسَقاهم سَيلَ الحَيا وَسَقاهُ
I entrust the Hijaz and its people to God;
I entrust Allah with the Hejaz and its people
may He water them, and it, with a torrent of rain.
And He quenched them with the torrent of life and quenched it (the land)
أَهوىI love الحِجازthe Hijaz وَطلحهand its talh acacias وَسيالِهِand its sayal acacias
أَهوى الحِجاز وَطلحه وَسيالِهِ
وَأَراكهand its arak trees وَبشامهand its balsam trees وَعضاهُand its thorn trees
وَأَراكه وَبشامه وَعضاهُ
I love the Hijaz, its talh and sayal acacias,
I yearn for the Hejaz, its meadows and streams
its arak trees, its balsam, and its thorn trees.
And its plains, mountains and landmarks
فَسَقىso may He water الإِلَهَGod سهولَهُits plains وَحزونهand its rugged heights
فَسَقى الإِلَهَ سهولَهُ وَحزونه
وَمروجَهُand its meadows ووهادَهُand its hollows وَرُباهُand its hills
وَمروجَهُ ووهادَهُ وَرُباهُ
May God water its plains and rugged heights,
So Allah watered its valleys, saddles, meadows,
its meadows, hollows, and hills,
Plateaus, lowlands, and hills
غَيثاًrain يُطبِّقblankets بِالفلاةthe wilderness فَيَستَويso becomes alike
غَيثاً يُطبِّق بِالفلاة فَيَستَوي
بِالرَوضِlike a garden منظرthe appearance of أَرضِهِits earth وَسَماهُand its sky
بِالرَوضِ منظر أَرضِهِ وَسَماهُ
with rain that blankets the wilderness, until
With rain that blankets the wilderness and makes
its earth and sky alike look like a garden—
The view of its land equal to its sky
جوداًa bounty كجوديدlike the bounty of the hand of ابنIbn عمرانImran الَّذيwho
جوداً كجوديد ابن عمران الَّذي
بَهَرَdazzled الأَنامَhumankind سَناؤُهُhis splendor وَسِناهُand his radiance
بَهَرَ الأَنامَ سَناؤُهُ وَسِناهُ
a bounty like that of Ibn Imran's hand, whose
Like the generosity of Judayd ibn ‘Imran
splendor and radiance dazzled humankind.
Whose glory and eminence dazzled all people
يَحكيemulates الشَريفthe nobleman أَباAbu عليِّAli جودِهِhis bounty
يَحكي الشَريف أَبا عليِّ جودِهِ
يَتَوَسَّمdiscerns signs الوَسميُّthe autumn rain فيin سيماهُhis countenance
يَتَوَسَّم الوَسميُّ في سيماهُ
In bounty it emulates the noble Abu Ali;
The noble one recalls the generosity of Abu ‘Ali
the autumn rain reads signs in his countenance.
The distinguished one sees it in his attributes
كَيَمينlike the right hand of عَبّاسٍAbbas أَبيAbu الحسنal-Hasan الَّذيwho
كَيَمين عَبّاسٍ أَبي الحسن الَّذي
بَهَرَdazzled الأَنامَhumankind سَناؤُهُhis splendor وَسِناهُand his radiance
بَهَرَ الأَنامَ سَناؤُهُ وَسِناهُ
Like the right hand of Abbas, Abu al-Hasan, whose
Like the right hand of ‘Abbas Abu Al-Hasan whose
splendor and radiance dazzled humankind.
Glory and eminence dazzled all people
ضَحِكَsmiled الزَمانُTime وَكانَand had been عَبّاساًa scowler لَناtoward us
ضَحِكَ الزَمانُ وَكانَ عَبّاساً لَنا
بِنَوالِthrough the gifts of عَبّاسٍAbbas وَطيبand the sweetness of ثَناهُhis praise
بِنَوالِ عَبّاسٍ وَطيب ثَناهُ
Time smiled, though once it had scowled at us,
Time smiled and it was through ‘Abbas for us
through Abbas's gifts and his sweet renown.
With the bestowment of ‘Abbas and his excellent praise
ملكa king يُقِرُّacknowledge بِفَضلِهِhis merit وَبِبَذلِهِand his generosity
ملك يُقِرُّ بِفَضلِهِ وَبِبَذلِهِ
وَبِعَدلِهِand his justice أَصحابَهُhis companions وَعِداهُand his foes
وَبِعَدلِهِ أَصحابَهُ وَعِداهُ
A king whose merit and liberality,
A king who acknowledges with his grace, generosity,
and justice, his companions and foes acknowledge.
And justice his companions and enemies
جبلare fashioned الأَنامِhumankind عَلىfor الخِلافِdisagreement وَلاand not أَرىI see
جبل الأَنامِ عَلى الخِلافِ وَلا أَرى
رَجُلَينِtwo men يَختَلِفانِdisagree فيover عَلياهُhis eminence
رَجُلَينِ يَختَلِفانِ في عَلياهُ
Humankind is fashioned to differ, yet I see
A mountain for all people in leadership, and I do not see
no two men disagreeing over his eminence.
Two men differing regarding his supremacy
قَدindeed صاغَهُfashioned him الرَحمَنُthe All-Merciful مِنfrom كَرَمٍgenerosity فَلَوso if
قَد صاغَهُ الرَحمَنُ مِن كَرَمٍ فَلَو
لمستهtouched him راحةa palm باخِلٍof a miser أَعداهُhe would infect him
لمسته راحة باخِلٍ أَعداهُ
The All-Merciful fashioned him from generosity; were
The Merciful molded him from nobility, so if
a miser's palm to touch him, he would infect that miser with it.
A miser’s palm touched him, it would enrich him
اليمنgood fortune فيin يُمناهُhis right hand كَيفَhowever تَصَرَّفَتchange
اليمن في يُمناهُ كَيفَ تَصَرَّفَت
أَحوالهhis circumstances وَاليُسرand ease فيin يُسراهُhis left hand
أَحواله وَاليُسر في يُسراهُ
Good fortune is in his right hand, whatever turns
Yemen in his prosperity, see how
his circumstances take; ease is in his left.
His conditions turned favorable, and ease in his comfort
ساسَruled الأَقاليمَthe provinces العِظامmighty بِكَفِّهِin his palm
ساسَ الأَقاليمَ العِظام بِكَفِّهِ
قلمa pen يَفُلُّblunts شَباthe sharp points of الخُطوبِcalamities شَباهُits sharp point
قلم يَفُلُّ شَبا الخُطوبِ شَباهُ
In his hand the mighty provinces are ruled by
He governed the great regions with his palm,
a pen whose edge blunts the sharp points of calamities.
A pen that foils the thorns of calamities
يَجلوreveals جَبيناًa brow لِلعُفاةِto petitioners تَرَقرَقَتshimmered
يَجلو جَبيناً لِلعُفاةِ تَرَقرَقَت
وَتَدَفَّقَتand flowed للبشرwith gladness فيهِwithin it مياهُwaters
وَتَدَفَّقَت للبشر فيهِ مياهُ
He shows petitioners a brow in which shimmer
He reveals a serene forehead for the wretched whose
and flow the waters of gladness.
Tears flowed from it in streams
وَيُبَشِّرand gives good tidings to العافينthe petitioners بِشرthe gladness of جَبينهhis brow
وَيُبَشِّر العافين بِشر جَبينه
بِالنُجحof success قَبلَbefore يَنالهمreaches them جَداوهhis bounty
بِالنُجح قَبلَ يَنالهم جَداوه
His brow's gladness gives petitioners good tidings
And he gives good tidings with his serene forehead
of success before his bounty reaches them.
Of success to the prosperous before misfortune reaches them
وَلِجودِهِand for his generosity مِنfrom نَفسِهِhis own soul داعٍa caller إِذاwhen
وَلِجودِهِ مِن نَفسِهِ داعٍ إِذا
ناداهُcalls him حَيَّcome! عَلىto النَدىgenerosity لَبّاهُhe answers it
ناداهُ حَيَّ عَلى النَدى لَبّاهُ
His generosity has a caller within his own soul; when
His soul calls him to generosity whenever
it cries, 'Come to bounty!' he answers it.
It calls him, alive with dew, yearning for him
يَدريknows الجَوادَthe steed إِذاwhen استَوىhe sits firmly فيon مَتنِهِits back
يَدري الجَوادَ إِذا استَوى في مَتنِهِ
أَنَّthat الفَقيرthe one in need إِلىof الحِزامthe girth سِواهُsomeone other than him
أَنَّ الفَقير إِلى الحِزام سِواهُ
The steed knows, when he settles upon its back,
He knows the generous one when he mounts his saddle
that the one needing a girth is someone other than him.
That the poor man needs the girth other than him
فَكَأَنَّهُso he is like لِثَباتِهِbecause of his firmness فيon طَرفِهِhis steed
فَكَأَنَّهُ لِثَباتِهِ في طَرفِهِ
عضوa limb تَمَكَّنis firmly set فيin سواءthe middle of قُراهُits back
عضو تَمَكَّن في سواء قُراهُ
So firmly does he sit upon his steed, he seems
So it is as if for his firmness in his manner
a limb fixed in the middle of its back.
A limb enabled over its plateau steadied him
لاnot يَقتَنيhe acquires العلياeminence إِلّاexcept بِالظُبىwith blade-points
لا يَقتَني العليا إِلّا بِالظُبى
قدماًonward إِذاwhen ونيَتfalter صُدورthe points of قَناهُhis spears
قدماً إِذا ونيَت صُدور قَناهُ
He wins eminence only with blade-points,
He does not gain supremacy except with gazelles
pressing onward when his spearheads falter.
When the chests of their necks bow down
فالبيضso the bright swords السنةtongues نَواطِقspeaking مالهاthey have no
فالبيض السنة نَواطِق مالها
إِلّاexcept الجَماجِمُskulls وَالرِقابُand necks شِفاهُlips
إِلّا الجَماجِمُ وَالرِقابُ شِفاهُ
The bright swords are speaking tongues; they have no
So the seasoned white swords - their tongues have no
lips but skulls and necks.
Eloquence except the skulls and the necks are their lips
ماضيkeen العَزيمِin resolve لَوif اِستَنابَhe deputized عَزيمَةًresolve
ماضي العَزيمِ لَو اِستَنابَ عَزيمَةً
عَنin place of كُلِّevery حَدِّedge of مُهَنَّدٍan Indian-forged sword أَغناهُit would suffice him
عَن كُلِّ حَدِّ مُهَنَّدٍ أَغناهُ
Keen of resolve: were he to let his resolve serve
Resolute, if you seek resolution
in place of every Indian sword's edge, it would suffice him.
From every honed blade, it will make you self-sufficient
ياO مَنyou who يُفَنِّدُهُreproach him عَلىfor إِعطائِهِhis giving
يا مَن يُفَنِّدُهُ عَلى إِعطائِهِ
لَومُblame السَحائِبِthe clouds أَنthat تَشُحَّthey withhold سَقاهُits watering
لَومُ السَحائِبِ أَن تَشُحَّ سَقاهُ
O you who reproach him for his giving,
O you who criticizes him for his charity
clouds are blamed for withholding their rain.
As if the clouds are miserly to water it
أَتَلومَهُdo you blame him? فيfor الجودِgenerosity وَهوَwhen it is رَضاعةnursing
أَتَلومَهُ في الجودِ وَهوَ رَضاعة
قِدماًof old ومنand from بعدafter الرَضاعِnursing غَذاهُnourished him
قِدماً ومن بعد الرَضاعِ غَذاهُ
Do you blame him for bounty, which nursed him
Would you blame him for generosity when it is his nature
from the first, and fed him after he was weaned?
To nurse since infancy and after nursing, he fed it?
فَإِذاso when نَهاهُforbids him عاذِلٌa reprover عَنfrom جودِهِhis generosity
فَإِذا نَهاهُ عاذِلٌ عَن جودِهِ
لَمdid not يُثنِهِdissuade him وَكأَنَّهُand as though he أَغراهُurged him on
لَم يُثنِهِ وَكأَنَّهُ أَغراهُ
When a reprover forbids him his bounty,
So if a critic prohibits him from his charity
he does not dissuade him, but seems to urge him on.
He does not prevent him, as if enticing him
لاnot يُستَطاعis possible لِفَضلِهِof his excellence وَصفٌa description وَلَوeven if
لا يُستَطاع لِفَضلِهِ وَصفٌ وَلَو
أَنَّthat العِبادَpeople بأَسرِهمall of them أَفواهُmouths
أَنَّ العِبادَ بأَسرِهم أَفواهُ
His excellence cannot be described, even if
His grace cannot be described, even if
all people, every one of them, were mouths.
All the servants altogether moved their lips
فَقَدfor indeed اِغتَدىhe has become فيin كُلِّevery شَيءthing كامِلاًperfect
فَقَد اِغتَدى في كُلِّ شَيء كامِلاً
فَوَقاهso may He protect him مِنfrom عَينِthe evil eye of الكَمالِperfection اللَهُGod
فَوَقاه مِن عَينِ الكَمالِ اللَهُ
He has become perfect in everything;
He has certainly perfected everything so
may God guard him from perfection's evil eye.
Allah has protected him from the evil eye of perfection
إِقدامthe daring of حَيدَرَةٍHaydara وَبأسand the might of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
إِقدام حَيدَرَةٍ وَبأس مُحَمَّدٍ
فيهِin him وَلاand do not يعدوهماgo beyond those two أَبواهُhis two forefathers
فيهِ وَلا يعدوهما أَبواهُ
Haydara's daring and Muhammad's might
The resolve of Khaydar and the might of Muhammad
are in him; his two forefathers are none but these.
Are in him, no parents transcend them
نَسَباًa lineage تَرىyou see عنوانهits heading فيon وَجهِهِhis face
نَسَباً تَرى عنوانه في وَجهِهِ
فَلَوso if أَنَّthat أُميّاan illiterate man يَراهُsees him قَراهُhe would read it
فَلَو أَنَّ أُميّا يَراهُ قَراهُ
A lineage whose inscription you see upon his face:
A lineage whose title is evident in his face
were an illiterate man to see him, he would read it.
If an illiterate sees him, he would recognize him
أَشبهتَyou resemble فيin العَلياءeminence جَدَّكَyour forefather أَحمَداًAhmad
أَشبهتَ في العَلياء جَدَّكَ أَحمَداً
إِنَّindeed الأَكارِمَthe noble فيin العُلىlofty rank أَشباهُalike
إِنَّ الأَكارِمَ في العُلى أَشباهُ
In eminence you resemble your forefather Ahmad;
You resemble your grandfather Ahmad in supremacy
the noble resemble one another in lofty rank.
The noble ones in elevation are similar
قُسِمَwas apportioned النَدىgenerosity فَجَرىso circulated الأَنامhumankind بِأَسرِهِمall of them
قُسِمَ النَدى فَجَرى الأَنام بِأَسرِهِم
مِنهُfrom it اسمهits name وَحويتُمُand you all possessed مَعناهُits meaning
مِنهُ اسمه وَحويتُمُ مَعناهُ
Generosity was apportioned; all humankind received
Generosity was distributed so all people
its name, while you possessed its meaning.
In their entirety flowed from his name, and you encompassed its meaning
فَمَنِso whoever ادَّعىclaims بَعدَafter النَبيِّthe Prophet وَآلِهِand his family
فَمَنِ ادَّعى بَعدَ النَبيِّ وَآلِهِ
مَعنىthe substance of الفَضائِلِvirtues كُذِّبَتwas disproved دَعواهُhis claim
مَعنى الفَضائِلِ كُذِّبَت دَعواهُ
Whoever, after the Prophet and his family, claims
So whoever claims, after the Prophet and his progeny,
the substance of virtues has his claim disproved.
The qualities of excellence, his claim is belied
لَوif يَنسِلbegets offspring المَعروفkindness كنتَyou would be إِبناًa son لَهُof it
لَو يَنسِل المَعروف كنتَ إِبناً لَهُ
أَوor كانَit were مَولوداًborn لَكُنتَyou would surely be أَباهُits father
أَو كانَ مَولوداً لَكُنتَ أَباهُ
If kindness begot offspring, you would be its son;
If kindness begot an offspring, you would be his son
or were it born, you would be its father.
Or if he was born, you would be his father
أَنتَyou الرَبيعspring وَكَيفand how يَحياcomes to life مَوضِعa place
أَنتَ الرَبيع وَكَيف يَحيا مَوضِع
غيرother than الرَبيعspring بِهِin it فَماso not أَحياهُrevived it
غير الرَبيع بِهِ فَما أَحياهُ
You are spring; how could a place come to life
You are spring, and how can a place live
without spring within it? Nothing else revives it.
Other than by spring, so what revived it?
مَنwhoever كانَis نَحوtoward ابنِthe son of الإِمامَةِthe imamate سَيرهhis journey
مَن كانَ نَحو ابنِ الإِمامَةِ سَيره
فالنُجحthen success وَالتَوفيقand good fortune مُكتَنِفاهُboth flank him
فالنُجح وَالتَوفيق مُكتَنِفاهُ
Whoever journeys toward the son of the imamate
Whoever’s conduct is like the son of Imamate
is flanked by success and good fortune.
Success and victory will envelop him
سَيفa sword لَهُfor him فيon وَجهِthe face of شفرةthe blade of وَجهِهِhis face
سَيف لَهُ في وَجهِ شفرة وَجهِهِ
وَجهa face إِذاwhen كُلُّall الوجوهِfaces لَجاهُseek refuge with him
وَجه إِذا كُلُّ الوجوهِ لَجاهُ
A sword: upon the face of his countenance's blade
A sword that has a blade in the edge of his face
is a face when all faces seek refuge with him.
A face that if all faces sought refuge, they would resort to it
ماnot قالَhe said لاno مُذsince كانَhe came to be إِلّاexcept قولهhis saying
ما قالَ لا مُذ كانَ إِلّا قوله
عِندَat الشَهادَةِthe testimony of faith لاno إِلَهgod سِواهُother than Him
عِندَ الشَهادَةِ لا إِلَه سِواهُ
He has never said 'no' since he came to be, except
He did not say “no” since he existed except his saying
in the testimony of faith: 'There is no god but Him.'
“There is no god but He” at the time of testification
وَقَدand indeed اِعتَزمتI have resolved عَلىupon الرَحيلِdeparture فَإِنso if رأىhe sees fit
وَقَد اِعتَزمت عَلى الرَحيلِ فَإِن رأى
إِمضاءُfulfilling أَمرِthe wish of وَليِّهِhis loyal follower أَمضاهُhe will fulfill it
إِمضاءُ أَمرِ وَليِّهِ أَمضاهُ
I have resolved to depart; if he sees fit
And I had decided on departure, so if the fulfillment
to grant his loyal follower's wish, he will grant it.
Of his guardian’s order willed it, he would fulfill it
وَلَقَدand indeed علمتI know بِأَنَّthat مَوتيmy death عِندَهُin his presence
وَلَقَد علمت بِأَنَّ مَوتي عِندَهُ
هَزَلاًin jest يَفوقsurpasses العَيشlife عندwith سِواهُsomeone other than him
هَزَلاً يَفوق العَيش عند سِواهُ
I know well that my death in his presence,
And indeed I knew that my death to him
in jest, surpasses life with anyone else.
Is a jest that transcends life next to others
لِكِنَّهُbut it is that هَجَمَhas descended الشِتاءwinter وَعِندَهُand with him
لِكِنَّهُ هَجَمَ الشِتاء وَعِندَهُ
مِمَّنamong those who تَكونis تِهامَةTihama مَثواهُhis dwelling
مِمَّن تَكون تِهامَة مَثواهُ
But winter has descended, and with him is
But winter has come and next to him are
one of those whose dwelling is Tihama.
Those whose home Tihama will be
ياO أَيُّهاyou الملكking الَّذيwho لَمdid not أَغتَرِبI wander abroad
يا أَيُّها الملك الَّذي لَم أَغتَرِب
عَنfrom أَرضِthe land of قَوميmy people خُطوَةَa step لَولاهُbut for him
عَن أَرضِ قَومي خُطوَةَ لَولاهُ
O king, but for whom I would not have wandered
Oh you, the king whom I did not live
one step from the land of my people,
A foot away from my people’s land but for him
أَيَجوزis it permissible? أَنto أَشكوI complain of إِضاقَةthe straitening of عيشةa livelihood
أَيَجوز أَن أَشكو إِضاقَة عيشة
وَالمالwhile wealth عندكwith you واهِنpowerless وَالجاهُand rank
وَالمال عندك واهِن وَالجاهُ
may I complain of a straitened livelihood,
Is it permissible for me to complain of straitened livelihood
when wealth and rank lie powerless before you?
While wealth is humiliated next to you and prestige?
مُتَصَرِّفacting freely أَنّىwherever يَشاءُhe wishes بِرأيِهِby his judgment
مُتَصَرِّف أَنّى يَشاءُ بِرأيِهِ
وَيَمينهand his right hand لاnot فيin يَمينthe right hand of سِواهُanother
وَيَمينه لا في يَمين سِواهُ
Acting wherever he wishes, by his judgment
One who does as he wills with his opinion
and his right hand, not in the right hand of another.
And his hand, not by the hand of another
وَكَذاكَand likewise ظفرthe claw of اللَيثa lion فيin يَدthe hand of غَيرِهِsomeone other than him
وَكَذاكَ ظفر اللَيث في يَد غَيرِهِ
يَنبوglances off وَيفريand cleaves الهامskulls فيin يُمناهُhis right hand
يَنبو وَيفري الهام في يُمناهُ
So, too, a lion's claw in another's hand
And likewise the lion’s claws in another’s hand
glances off, but cleaves skulls in his right.
Roar and the cares freely range in its prosperity
قَلَمa pen بِخِلقَتِهِby its nature المَناياdeaths وَالمُنىand wishes
قَلَم بِخِلقَتِهِ المَنايا وَالمُنى
كالصِلِّlike a viper فيهِwithin it سُمّهits venom وَشفاهُand its cure
كالصِلِّ فيهِ سُمّه وَشفاهُ
A pen whose nature contains deaths and wishes,
A pen whose nature death and demise
like a viper, bearing both its venom and its cure.
In it is its poison and its remedy
قَطُّthe cutting down of العِدىfoes فيin قَطِّهِits nib's cut وَمِدادِهِand its ink
قَطُّ العِدى في قَطِّهِ وَمِدادِهِ
تَنفيسan extension of مُدَّةthe lifespan of كلeveryone مَنwho والاهُbefriends him
تَنفيس مُدَّة كل مَن والاهُ
Its nib's cut cuts down foes; its ink
The protector of alliances in his protection, for as long as
extends the lifespan of everyone who befriends him.
Whoever befriended him lived
ياO مَنyou who يَلومُreproach المُعصِراتُrain clouds عَلىfor النَدىgenerosity
يا مَن يَلومُ المُعصِراتُ عَلى النَدى
وَالمزنand the clouds أَكرَمtoo noble أَنto يَضنَّbe stingy نَباهُunclear as written
وَالمزن أَكرَم أَن يَضنَّ نَباهُ
O you who reproach the rain clouds for their bounty,
Oh you who the pressing blames for moisture
and the clouds are too noble to be stingy [final word unclear].
While the drawn one, most generous not to hoard its outpour
ملكa king إِذاif قسناهُwe compare him أَوor قُسناwe compare بِهِwith him
ملك إِذا قسناهُ أَو قُسنا بِهِ
قالَتsaid بَدائِعthe wonders of فَضلِهِhis excellence حاشاهُhe is above that!
قالَت بَدائِع فَضلِهِ حاشاهُ
A king: if we compare him, or compare others with him,
A king, if we judge him or judge by him
the wonders of his excellence say, 'Far be it!'
The wonders of his grace say far be it
ينميهgives him his lineage منfrom زيدانٍZaydan يشبهresembles مَعشَرٌa clan
ينميه من زيدانٍ يشبه مَعشَرٌ
لَهُمُtheirs منof الشَرَفِhonor الرَفيعlofty ذراهُits summits
لَهُمُ من الشَرَفِ الرَفيع ذراهُ
A clan of Zaydan, whom he resembles, gives him his lineage;
Prosperity sprouts from him resembling a people
theirs are the summits of lofty honor.
Who have the highest, loftiest lineage
مِنamong كُلِّevery وَضّاحٍradiant man إِذاwhen أَفنىexhausts النَدىgenerosity
مِن كُلِّ وَضّاحٍ إِذا أَفنى النَدى
منfrom كَفِّهِhis palm المالwealth اِقتَنىhe acquires بقناهُwith his spears
من كَفِّهِ المال اِقتَنى بقناهُ
Each a radiant man who, when bounty exhausts
Whoever, when ease passes, gains property
the wealth in his palm, acquires more with his spears.
With his palm that spent it seeking its channels
Sol 6.1