أما الحديد فإنه

أما الحديد فإنه

إن لان منه فوائدُ

إن لان منه فوائدُ

As for iron, indeed,

As for iron, verily

if it softens, benefits come from it.

It has much benefit

مزج الرصاص به فأن

مزج الرصاص به فأن

جبَ وهو نعم الوالدُ

جبَ وهو نعم الوالدُ

Lead was mixed with it, so it be-

Mixing lead with it, lo!

-got offspring; and an excellent father it is.

It is hardened and a fine alloy

نزع الحرارة واليبو

نزع الحرارة واليبو

سة عنه رطب باردُ

سة عنه رطب باردُ

It was stripped of heat and dry-

Removing heat and moisture

-ness by something moist and cold.

From it, moist and cold

فإذا الطباع تعادلت

فإذا الطباع تعادلت

صلح المزاج الفاسدُ

صلح المزاج الفاسدُ

So when the qualities come into balance,

Then when the temperaments are balanced

the corrupted mixture is set right.

The spoiled disposition is corrected

وإذا تزعفر بالندى

وإذا تزعفر بالندى

فالصبغ منه خالدُ

فالصبغ منه خالدُ

And when it turns saffron-yellow with dew,

And when it is cooled with dew

the dye it yields is everlasting.

The dye thereof lasts

وإذا ارتقى في صبغه

وإذا ارتقى في صبغه

صُعُداً فغُنمٌ باردُ

صُعُداً فغُنمٌ باردُ

And when it rises in its coloring,

And when it rises in its dye

upward, it is a gain won without toil.

To high lands, it is a fine profit

فيه البلاغ لقانع

فيه البلاغ لقانع

يشقى به ويكابدُ

يشقى به ويكابدُ

In it is enough for one who is content,

In it is achievement for the contented

who toils over it and endures hardship.

Who is miserable with it and perseveres

يضحي الفقير بنيله

يضحي الفقير بنيله

وهو الغني الواجدُ

وهو الغني الواجدُ

By obtaining it, the poor man becomes

The poor man sacrifices to obtain it

a wealthy man, possessed of riches.

Yet it is the rich man who has it