هِيَit حالانِtwo states شِدَّةٌhardship وَرَخاءُand prosperity
هِيَ حالانِ شِدَّةٌ وَرَخاءُ
وَسِجالانِand two alternating turns نِعمَةٌblessing وَبلاءُand affliction
وَسِجالانِ نِعمَةٌ وَبلاءُ
There are two states: hardship and prosperity,
There are two states, hardship and prosperity
Life is but two states: hardship and ease,
and two alternating fortunes: blessing and affliction.
And two contests, blessing and tribulation
And alternating fortunes: blessing and tribulation.
وَالفَتىand the young man الحاذِقُskillful الأَريبُdiscerning إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle
وَالفَتى الحاذِقُ الأَريبُ إِذا ما
خانَهُbetrayed him الدَهرُtime لَمdid not يَخُنهُbetray him عَزاءُfortitude
خانَهُ الدَهرُ لَم يَخُنهُ عَزاءُ
And when the skillful, discerning young man
And the wise young man, if fate betrays him
The astute and sagacious man, whenever
is betrayed by time, his fortitude does not fail him.
His dignity will not betray him
Time betrays him, is not betrayed by his fortitude.
إِنif أَلَمَّتbefell مُلِمَّةٌa calamity بيupon me فَإِنّيthen indeed I am
إِن أَلَمَّت مُلِمَّةٌ بي فَإِنّي
فيin المُلِمّاتِcalamities صَخرَةٌa rock صَمّاءُsolid
في المُلِمّاتِ صَخرَةٌ صَمّاءُ
If a calamity befalls me, then I am
If disaster befalls me, yet I am
If a calamity descends upon me, then truly I,
amid calamities a solid rock,
In disasters a deaf rock
Amidst calamities, am a solid, unyielding rock,
عالِمٌknowing بِالبَلاءِof affliction عِلماًknowledge بَأَنof the fact that لَيfirst part of ليس ('not')
عالِمٌ بِالبَلاءِ عِلماً بَأَن لَي
سَcompletion of ليس ('not') يَدومُlasts النَعيمُbliss وَالرَخاءُand prosperity
سَ يَدومُ النَعيمُ وَالرَخاءُ
well acquainted with affliction, knowing that
Knowing of affliction, I know that never
Well-versed in adversity, knowing with certainty
bliss and prosperity do not endure.
Does bliss and comfort last
That neither bliss nor prosperity shall endure.
Sol 6.1