أطَلَّتِpeered out الآلامُthe pains منfrom جُحْرِهِhis burrow
أطَلَّتِ الآلامُ من جُحْرِهِ
وَلُفَّتِand were wrapped الأسْقامُthe ailments فيin طِمْرِهِhis rag
وَلُفَّتِ الأسْقامُ في طِمْرِهِ
Pains peered out from his burrow,
Suffering crept out of its lair
And ailments were wrapped in his rag.
And sickness coiled in its burrow
بُرْدَتُهُhis cloak الليلnight علىdespite بَرْدِهits cold
بُرْدَتُهُ الليل على بَرْدِه
وكِنُّهُand his shelter الْقَيْظُscorching summer علىdespite حَرِّهits heat
وكِنُّهُ الْقَيْظُ على حَرِّه
His cloak is night, for all its cold,
Its chill blanketed the night with its chill
And scorching summer, for all its heat, his shelter.
And its roast smothered the heat with its heat
مُشَرَّدٌhomeless يَأوِيseeks refuge إلىin هَمِّهِhis sorrow
مُشَرَّدٌ يَأوِي إلى هَمِّهِ
إذاwhen أوَىsought refuge الطيرُthe birds إِلىin وَكْرِهtheir nest
إذا أوَى الطيرُ إِلى وَكْرِه
A homeless child seeks refuge in his sorrow
A vagrant seeking refuge in his worries
When birds seek refuge in their nests.
When the birds take refuge in their nests
ماnever ذاقtasted حُلْوَthe sweetness of اللثْمkissing فيon خَدِّهِhis cheek
ما ذاق حُلْوَ اللثْم في خَدِّهِ
ولاnor حنانَthe tenderness of المَسِّtouch فيin شَعْرِهِhis hair
ولا حنانَ المَسِّ في شَعْرِهِ
He has never tasted sweet kisses on his cheek,
He has not tasted the sweetness of a kiss on his cheek
Nor a tender touch upon his hair.
Nor the tenderness of a touch in his hair
وَلاَnor حَوَتْهenfolded him الأمُّthe mother فيagainst صَدْرِهاher breast
وَلاَ حَوَتْه الأمُّ في صَدْرِها
ولاnor أبٌa father ناغاهُcooed to him فيin حِجْرِهhis lap
ولا أبٌ ناغاهُ في حِجْرِه
No mother has enfolded him against her breast,
His mother did not cradle him in her chest
Nor father cooed to him upon his lap.
Nor did a father croon him in his lap
قدindeed صَبَرَmade endure النفْسَthe soul علىwith ماwhat بهاis in it
قد صَبَرَ النفْسَ على ما بها
وانتظَرand awaited الموعودَthe promised reward منfrom صَبْرِهhis patience
وانتظَر الموعودَ من صَبْرِه
He has made his soul endure its suffering,
His soul has been patient with what it contains
And awaited the promised reward of patience.
And awaits the promised reward for its patience
البَطْنُthe belly مهضومٌsunken طواهfolded it الطَّوَىhunger
البَطْنُ مهضومٌ طواه الطَّوَى
ونامَand slept أهلُthe people of الأرضِthe earth عنheedless of نَشْرِهِunfolding it
ونامَ أهلُ الأرضِ عن نَشْرِهِ
His belly is sunken, folded by hunger,
His belly is worn out, shrouded by agony
While earth's people slept, heedless of unfolding it.
And the people of the land sleep heedless of his plight
والوجهُand the face لليأْسِbelonging to despair بهupon it نَظْرَةٌa gaze
والوجهُ لليأْسِ به نَظْرَةٌ
يَقذِفُهاhurls it الْحِقْدُrancor علىat دَهْرِهhis fate
يَقذِفُها الْحِقْدُ على دَهْرِه
His face bears a gaze of despair,
And his face conveys despair with a glance
Which rancor hurls at his fate.
That hatred casts upon the days of his life
جَرَّحهwounded him الدهرُTime فمِنْso from نَابِهits fang
جَرَّحه الدهرُ فمِنْ نَابِه
تلكthose الأخاديدُfurrows ومنand from ظُفْرهits claw
تلك الأخاديدُ ومن ظُفْره
Time has wounded him: from its fang
Time has scarred him, from its sharpness
Come those furrows, and from its claw.
Are those wrinkles, and from its claws
قدindeed كتبwrote اللّهُGod علىupon خَدِّهhis cheek
قد كتب اللّهُ على خَدِّه
خَطّاًa script يَبِينُbecomes plain البُؤُسُmisery فيin سَطْرِهِits line
خَطّاً يَبِينُ البُؤُسُ في سَطْرِهِ
God has written upon his cheek
God has etched a line on his cheek
A script whose line makes misery plain.
A clear mark of misery in its verse
وغارand sank ضوءُthe light of الحِسِّfeeling منfrom عَيْنهِhis eye
وغار ضوءُ الحِسِّ من عَيْنهِ
وفرَّand fled لَمْحُthe glimmer of الأُنسِgladness منfrom ثَغْرِهhis mouth
وفرَّ لَمْحُ الأُنسِ من ثَغْرِه
The light of feeling has sunk from his eye,
The light has faded from his eyes
And the glimmer of gladness fled his lips.
And the glint of companionship vanished from his smile
والبشرُand cheerfulness أينwhere البِشْرُcheerfulness وَيْحيalas for me لهfor him
والبشرُ أين البِشْرُ وَيْحي له
ياO رحمةَthe mercy of اللّهGod علىupon بِشْرِهِhis cheerfulness
يا رحمةَ اللّه على بِشْرِهِ
And cheerfulness—where is cheerfulness? Alas for him!
And people - where are the people? Woe to him!
God's mercy upon his smile!
O God's mercy upon His creation!
يجرُّdrags رِجْلَيْهhis two feet بَطيءslow الْخُطَاof step
يجرُّ رِجْلَيْه بَطيء الْخُطَا
كالْجُعَلِlike the dung beetle المكْدُودِworn out منfrom جَرِّهits dragging
كالْجُعَلِ المكْدُودِ من جَرِّه
He drags his feet, slow of step,
He drags his feet slowly
Like a dung beetle exhausted by its hauling.
Like a worn out camel from its pulling
إِنif نامhe sleeps أبْصرتَyou see بهin him كُتْلَةًa lump
إِن نام أبْصرتَ به كُتْلَةً
تجمعُdraws together ساقَيْهِhis two shins إلىto نَحْرِهhis throat
تجمعُ ساقَيْهِ إلى نَحْرِه
If he sleeps, you see in him a lump
If he sleeps, you see him as a mass
Drawing his shins up to his throat.
Drawing his legs up to his throat
احتَبَسَتْwas confined أوَّاهُ'Ah!' فيin قَلْبِهِhis heart
احتَبَسَتْ أوَّاهُ في قَلْبِهِ
واختنقتand was stifled ويْلاهُ'Alas!' فيin صَدْرِهhis breast
واختنقت ويْلاهُ في صَدْرِه
His 'Ah!' is imprisoned in his heart,
His groans are trapped in his heart
And his 'Alas!' stifled in his breast.
And his sorrows choked in his chest
وجفَّand dried ماءُthe water of العَيْنِthe eye فيin مُوقِهاits inner corner
وجفَّ ماءُ العَيْنِ في مُوقِها
ماذاwhat أفَادbenefited العينَthe eye منfrom هَمْرِهits pouring
ماذا أفَاد العينَ من هَمْرِه
His tears have dried in the corner of his eye;
The tears in his eyes have dried in their pits
What has their pouring gained the eye?
What good did tears do him in his bitterness?
سالتflowed بهwith it نَهراًas a river علىfor لُقْمةٍa morsel
سالت به نَهراً على لُقْمةٍ
فعادَthen returned كالسائلِlike the beggar فيin نَهْرهhis being rebuffed
فعادَ كالسائلِ في نَهْره
It streamed with tears, a river, for a morsel,
They flowed from him like a river over a morsel
Only to return like a beggar rebuffed.
Yet he returned like one seeking water in a river
لاnot يَجِدُfinds المأوَىshelter ولوeven if رَامَهُhe sought it
لا يَجِدُ المأوَى ولو رَامَهُ
أحالَهُdirected him الدهرTime علىto قَبْرهhis grave
أحالَهُ الدهر على قَبْره
He finds no shelter, even if he seeks it;
He cannot find refuge even if he wanted it
Time has directed him to his grave.
Time has directed him to his grave
هناكthere يَثْوِيrests هادئاًquiet آمِناًsafe
هناك يَثْوِي هادئاً آمِناً
منfrom شَظَفِthe hardship of العَيْشِlife ومنand from وَعْرِهits ruggedness
من شَظَفِ العَيْشِ ومن وَعْرِه
There he rests, quiet and safe
There he will rest, calm and safe
From life's hardship and its ruggedness.
From the disgrace of living and its hardship
فكمfor how many بصدرin the breast of القَبْرthe grave منof ضَجْعةٍa resting place
فكم بصدر القَبْر من ضَجْعةٍ
أحنىkinder منthan الدهرTime ومنand than نُكْرِهِits cruelty
أحنى من الدهر ومن نُكْرِهِ
How many a resting place in the grave's breast
For in the heart of the grave lies many a slumber
Is kinder than Time and its cruelty!
More bent than time's injustice and forgetfulness
مَتْعَبَةُthe weariness of الإِنسانِhumanity فيin حِسِّهِhuman feeling
مَتْعَبَةُ الإِنسانِ في حِسِّهِ
وشِقْوةُand the misery of الإِنسانhumanity منfrom فِكْرِهhuman thought
وشِقْوةُ الإِنسان من فِكْرِه
Human weariness lies in human feeling,
The weariness of man in his senses
And human misery springs from thought.
And the misery of man from his thoughts
كيفhow يُرجَّىis hoped for الصفْوُserenity منfrom كَائنٍa being
كيف يُرجَّى الصفْوُ من كَائنٍ
الْحمَأُblack mud المسنونُputrid فيin ذَرِّهhis particles
الْحمَأُ المسنونُ في ذَرِّه
How can serenity be hoped for from a being
How can purity be expected of a being
In whose particles lies black, putrid mud?
Whose particles are saturated with blemish?
لمhas not يَسْمُrisen للأملاكto the angels فيin أوْجِهَاtheir heights
لم يَسْمُ للأملاك في أوْجِهَا
ولاnor هَوَىfallen للوَحْشِto the beasts فيin قَفْرِهtheir wilderness
ولا هَوَى للوَحْشِ في قَفْرِه
He has not risen to the angels in their heights,
He did not name the angels in their faces
Nor fallen to the beasts in their wilderness.
Nor did he desire beasts in their habitats
رامsought اللبابَthe kernel المَحْضَpure منfrom سَعْيِهِhis striving
رام اللبابَ المَحْضَ من سَعْيِهِ
فلمbut did not يَنَلْobtain منهfrom it سِوَىexcept قِشْرِهits husk
فلم يَنَلْ منه سِوَى قِشْرِه
He sought the pure kernel of his striving,
He sought sincere wisdom in his quest
But obtained nothing from it except its husk.
Yet obtained from it nothing but its rind
يسعَىstrives وماand does not يَدْرِيknow إلىtoward نفعِهِhis benefit
يسعَى وما يَدْرِي إلى نفعِهِ
سَعَىhe has striven حَثِيثاًswiftly أمor إِلىtoward ضَرِّهِhis harm
سَعَى حَثِيثاً أم إِلى ضَرِّهِ
He strives, not knowing whether toward his benefit
He strives without knowing what benefits him
He has hurried, or toward his harm.
Whether he strives vigorously or to his detriment
آمنتُI believed باللّهin God فكمfor how many عالِمٍa scholar
آمنتُ باللّه فكم عالِمٍ
أعجزهbaffled him المحجوبُthe concealed منof سِرِّهHis mystery
أعجزه المحجوبُ من سِرِّه
I believe in God: how many a scholar
I have believed in God, yet how many scholars
Has been baffled by His hidden mystery!
Has the unseen overwhelmed in its mystery?
اللّهGod (an appeal) فيfor طِفْلٍa child غزاهُassailed him الضَّنَىwasting sickness
اللّه في طِفْلٍ غزاهُ الضَّنَى
بأدْهَمِwith the blackest الخَطْبِcalamity ومُغْبَرِّهand its dustiest
بأدْهَمِ الخَطْبِ ومُغْبَرِّه
Fear God for a child assailed by wasting sickness,
God is in a child overcome by poverty
With calamity at its blackest and dustiest.
With dark sorrows and dusty rags
فيin ظُلُماتٍdarkness مَوْجُهاits waves زاخرٌsurging
في ظُلُماتٍ مَوْجُها زاخرٌ
كأنّهُas though he were ذوthe possessor of النُّونِthe whale فيin بَحْرِهِhis sea
كأنّهُ ذو النُّونِ في بَحْرِهِ
In darkness whose waves surge,
In deep darkness, his face radiant
As though he were Dhu al-Nun in his sea.
As if he were Jonah in his sea
والناسُand the people بالشاطىءon the shore منincluding غافلٍa heedless person
والناسُ بالشاطىء من غافلٍ
أوor ساخرa mocker أمْعَنَwent far فيin سُخْرهhis mockery
أو ساخر أمْعَنَ في سُخْره
The people on the shore are heedless,
While the people on shore, heedless
Or mockers relentless in their mockery.
Or mocking, persist in their ridicule
والمَوْجُand the waves كالذُؤْبانِlike wolves حَوْلَaround الفتىthe boy
والمَوْجُ كالذُؤْبانِ حَوْلَ الفتى
يسدُّblocks أُذْنَthe ear of الأُفْقِthe horizon منْwith زَأرِهits roaring
يسدُّ أُذْنَ الأُفْقِ منْ زَأرِه
The waves are like wolves around the boy,
And the waves like wolves around the lad
Blocking the horizon's ear with their roar.
Blocking the horizon with their howling
نادَىhe called وماand did not نادَىcall سوَىexcept مَرَّةٍonce
نادَى وما نادَى سوَى مَرَّةٍ
حتّىuntil طواهُenfolded him اليَمُّthe sea فيin غَمْرِهits flood
حتّى طواهُ اليَمُّ في غَمْرِه
He called—and called only once—
He called out but called only once
Before the sea enfolded him in its flood.
Until the sea engulfed him in its depths
تظنُّهyou think him طِفْلاًa child فإنbut if حقّقَتْscrutinize
تظنُّه طِفْلاً فإن حقّقَتْ
عيناكَyour two eyes لمdo not تَعْثُرْfind علىupon عُشْرهِa tenth of him
عيناكَ لم تَعْثُرْ على عُشْرهِ
You think him a child, but if
You'd think him a child, but if
Your eyes scrutinize him, they will not find a tenth of him.
Your eyes discerned, you'd find no trace of his youth
كأنَّهas though he were الشّكُّdoubt إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle مَشَىhe walks
كأنَّه الشّكُّ إِذا ما مَشَى
أوor ماwhat يَرىsees النائمُthe sleeper فيin ذُعْرِهhis terror
أو ما يَرى النائمُ في ذُعْرِه
He is like doubt when he walks,
It's as if he were doubt, when it walks
Or what a sleeper sees in terror.
Or what the sleeping sees in their nightmare
طَغَىoverwhelmed بهhim الجوعُhunger ففيso in دَمْعِهِhis tears
طَغَى به الجوعُ ففي دَمْعِهِ
ماwhat فعلَdid الجوعُhunger وفيand in نَبْرِهhis tone
ما فعلَ الجوعُ وفي نَبْرِه
Hunger has overwhelmed him; in his tears
Hunger has overwhelmed him, so in his tears
Lies what hunger has done, and in his voice.
Is what hunger has done, and in his cry
واهاًalas لكفٍfor a hand لَصِقَتْclung بالثرَىto the dust
واهاً لكفٍ لَصِقَتْ بالثرَى
وائْتَدَمَتْand took as relish بالبُؤْسِmisery منfrom عَفْرِهits dust
وائْتَدَمَتْ بالبُؤْسِ من عَفْرِه
Alas for a hand that clings to the dust,
Woe to a palm stuck to the dirt
And takes misery from its dust as relish!
And bloodied by misery from its scraping
ماذاwhat علىupon الإحسانِcharity لوif ردَّهاit restored it
ماذا على الإحسانِ لو ردَّها
نَديْةَdewy الأطْرافِthe fingertips منfrom بِرِّهِits kindness
نَديْةَ الأطْرافِ من بِرِّهِ
What would it cost charity to restore it
What would kindness lose by returning it
With fingertips dewy from its kindness?
As a gift of limbs in gratitude?
ماذاwhat علىupon الإِحسانcharity لوif ردَّهاit restored it
ماذا على الإِحسان لو ردَّها
رَطيبةَmoist الألْسُنِthe tongues منfrom شُكرهthanking it
رَطيبةَ الألْسُنِ من شُكره
What would it cost charity to restore it
What would kindness lose by returning it
With tongues moist with gratitude to it?
As the sweetness of tongues in thanks?
كمhow many بَسْمَةٍa smile أرسلَهاsent it forth مُحْسنٌa benefactor
كم بَسْمَةٍ أرسلَها مُحْسنٌ
أزْهَىmore radiant منthan الروْضِthe garden ومنand than زَهْرِهits flowers
أزْهَى من الروْضِ ومن زَهْرِه
How many a smile sent forth by a benefactor
How many smiles has a benefactor sent
Is more radiant than a garden and its flowers!
More radiant than a meadow and its flowers?
ولُقْمةٍand a morsel سدَّتْfilled فماa mouth جائعاًhungry
ولُقْمةٍ سدَّتْ فما جائعاً
رجَّحَتِtipped المِيزانَthe scales فيat حَشْرهhis resurrection
رجَّحَتِ المِيزانَ في حَشْره
And many a morsel that filled a hungry mouth
And a morsel that has satiated the hungry
Has tipped the scales at his resurrection.
Tipping the scale in their favor in the reckoning?
ومِنَّةٍand a favor كانتwas جَنَاحاًa wing لهfor him
ومِنَّةٍ كانت جَنَاحاً له
طارَflew بهِon it الذائعُthe widespread منof ذِكْرِهِhis renown
طارَ بهِ الذائعُ من ذِكْرِهِ
And many a favor became a wing for him,
And a favor that has been like wings
On which his spreading renown took flight.
By which good repute has spread from its mention?
ودَمْعةٍand a tear يُذْرِفهاhe sheds it مُشْفِقاًcompassionately
ودَمْعةٍ يُذْرِفها مُشْفِقاً
أصْفَىpurer منthan المَذْخُورِthe stored-up منof دُرِّهhis pearls
أصْفَى من المَذْخُورِ من دُرِّه
And many a tear he sheds in compassion
And a tear shed in compassion
Is purer than his stored-up pearls.
Purer than treasure from its essence?
لاnot تُزْهِرُblossoms الجنةُParadise إِلاّexcept بماthrough what
لا تُزْهِرُ الجنةُ إِلاّ بما
يَسْفَحُهspills it الباكِيthe weeper علىover وِزْرهhis burden of sin
يَسْفَحُه الباكِي على وِزْره
Paradise blossoms only through what
Paradise does not bloom except by what
The weeper spills over his burden of sin.
The weeping sheds for their sins
لوif عَرَفَknew الإِنسانُthe person ماwhat أجرُهhis reward
لو عَرَفَ الإِنسانُ ما أجرُه
ماwould not ضَنَّbegrudge بالنفْسِhis soul علىfor أَجْرِهhis reward
ما ضَنَّ بالنفْسِ على أَجْرِه
If a person knew his reward,
If man knew his reward
He would not begrudge his soul for that reward.
He would not begrudge his soul its wage
يبقَىremains قليلُa little of المالِwealth مِنْfrom بَعْدِهِafter him
يبقَى قليلُ المالِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ
ويَذْهَبُand passes away المالُwealth علىdespite كُثْرِهِits abundance
ويَذْهَبُ المالُ على كُثْرِهِ
A little wealth endures after him,
Little wealth remains after him
While wealth passes away, however abundant.
While wealth leaves despite its abundance
بِيضُwhite أيادِيhands (kind deeds) المرْءِthe man's فيamong قَومِهِhis people
بِيضُ أيادِي المرْءِ في قَومِهِ
أغْلَىdearer منthan البِيضِsilver coins ومنand than صُفْرِهhis gold coins
أغْلَى من البِيضِ ومن صُفْرِه
A man's white hands of kindness among his people
The whiteness of a man's hands among his people
Are dearer than silver coins and his gold.
Is more precious than ivory and its yellowness
والحُرُّand the noble man لاnot يَنْعَمُfinds joy فيin وَفْرِهhis abundance
والحُرُّ لا يَنْعَمُ في وَفْرِه
حتىuntil يَنالَreceive الأحْداثُthe young عنaccording to قَدْرِهhis means
حتى يَنالَ الأحْداثُ عن قَدْرِه
The noble man finds no joy in his abundance
And the free man does not enjoy in his abundance
Until the young receive according to his means.
Until the youths attain what befits their merit
والناسُand people كالماءِlike water فمنso some are ضَحْحضَحٍِshallow water
والناسُ كالماءِ فمن ضَحْحضَحٍِ
ومنand some are عَميقٍdeep حِرْتُI am baffled فيin سَبْرِهsounding its depth
ومن عَميقٍ حِرْتُ في سَبْرِه
People are like water: some are shallow pools,
And people are like water, so from the shallow
And some are depths I am baffled to sound.
And from the deep, I struggled in its measurement
ليسis not الذيthe one who يُنْفِقُspends منfrom يُسْرِهhis prosperity
ليس الذي يُنْفِقُ من يُسْرِه
مِثْلَlike الذيthe one who يُنْفِقُspends منfrom عُسْرهhis hardship
مِثْلَ الذي يُنْفِقُ من عُسْره
One who spends from his prosperity is not
It is not one who spends from his ease
Like one who spends from his hardship.
Like one who spends from his hardship
كمhow many دِرْهَمٍa dirham أُلْقِيَwas cast فيinto سِجْنِهِits prison
كم دِرْهَمٍ أُلْقِيَ في سِجْنِهِ
ولمand did not يَنَلْreceive عَفْواًa pardon مَدَىthroughout عُمْرِهits lifetime
ولم يَنَلْ عَفْواً مَدَى عُمْرِه
How many a dirham has been cast into its prison,
How many coins have been thrown in his prison
And received no pardon throughout its life!
Yet he did not attain pardon in his lifetime?
لمdid not يَرَsee حُسْنَthe beauty of الصُّبحِmorning فيin شَمْسِهits sun
لم يَرَ حُسْنَ الصُّبحِ في شَمْسِه
ولاnor جَمالَthe beauty of الليلِnight فيin بَدْرِهits full moon
ولا جَمالَ الليلِ في بَدْرِه
It has not seen morning's beauty in its sun,
He did not see the beauty of dawn in its sun
Nor night's beauty in its full moon.
Nor the splendor of night in its moon
يطْمَعُlongs وَخْزُthe pang of الجوعِhunger فيfor وَصْلِهِunion with it
يطْمَعُ وَخْزُ الجوعِ في وَصْلِهِ
ويُرْسِلُand sends out الزَّفْراتِsighs منfrom هَجْرِهِseparation from it
ويُرْسِلُ الزَّفْراتِ من هَجْرِهِ
Hunger's pang longs for union with it,
He craves the sting of hunger in his stomach
And sends out sighs at being parted from it.
And unleashes sighs from its separation
والمالُand wealth كالْخَمْرِlike wine إذاwhen ماemphatic particle طَغَىruns rampant
والمالُ كالْخَمْرِ إذا ما طَغَى
ضاقتbecame too narrow فِجَاجُthe broad paths of الأرضِthe earth عنfor شَرِّهits evil
ضاقت فِجَاجُ الأرضِ عن شَرِّه
Wealth is like wine: when it runs rampant,
And wealth is like wine, if it runs wild
Earth's broad paths cannot contain its evil.
The expanses of earth tighten from its evil
متىwhen يَهُبُّawakens العقلُreason منfrom نَوْمِهits sleep
متى يَهُبُّ العقلُ من نَوْمِه
أوor يستفيقُrecovers المالُwealth منfrom سُكْرِهits drunkenness
أو يستفيقُ المالُ من سُكْرِه
When will reason awaken from its sleep,
When will the mind awaken from its slumber?
Or wealth recover from its drunkenness?
Or wealth sober up from its drunkenness?
متىwhen أَرَىshall I see النفسَthe soul وقدand now أُطْلِقَتْhas been freed
متى أَرَى النفسَ وقد أُطْلِقَتْ
منfrom رِبْقَةِthe yoke of المالِwealth ومنand from أسْرِهits captivity
من رِبْقَةِ المالِ ومن أسْرِه
When shall I see the soul set free
When will I see the soul freed
From wealth's yoke and its captivity?
From the shackles of money and its captivity?
متىwhen أرَىshall I see الْحُبَّlove كضَوْءِlike the light of الضُّحَىmorning
متى أرَى الْحُبَّ كضَوْءِ الضُّحَى
كُلُّevery امْرِىءٍperson يَسْبَحُswims فيin طُهْرِهits purity
كُلُّ امْرِىءٍ يَسْبَحُ في طُهْرِه
When shall I see love like the light of morning,
When will I see love like the dawn’s glow
Every person swimming in its purity?
With each person swimming in their purity?
متىwhen أرَىshall I see الناسَpeople وقدand now نُزِّهُواhave been purged
متى أرَى الناسَ وقد نُزِّهُوا
عنof شَرَهِthe greed of الذئبِthe wolf وعنand of غَدْرِهits treachery
عن شَرَهِ الذئبِ وعن غَدْرِه
When shall I see people purged
When will I see people purified
Of the wolf's greed and its treachery?
Of the wolf's evil and its betrayal?
أُخُوَّةُthe brotherhood of الغُصْنِthe branch إِلىwith صِنْوِهِits fellow
أُخُوَّةُ الغُصْنِ إِلى صِنْوِهِ
وبَسْمَةُand the smile of الزهْرِthe flowers إِلىtoward قَطْرِهِtheir raindrops
وبَسْمَةُ الزهْرِ إِلى قَطْرِهِ
The branch's brotherhood with its fellow,
A branch's kinship to its origin
And the flower's smile toward its raindrops,
And a flower's smile towards its rain
ورَحْمَةٌand mercy رَفّافَةٌfluttering لمhas not تَدَعْleft
ورَحْمَةٌ رَفّافَةٌ لم تَدَعْ
قلْباًa heart يُوارِيconcealing النارَfire فيin صَخْرِهِits stone
قلْباً يُوارِي النارَ في صَخْرِهِ
And a fluttering mercy that leaves no
And a gentle kindness that did not leave
Heart concealing fire within its stone.
A heart that conceals fire in its stone
لاnot يُحْسَدُis envied الجاهُrank علىfor مالِهits wealth
لا يُحْسَدُ الجاهُ على مالِه
أوor يُنْهَرُis scolded الْبُؤْسُmisery علىfor فَقْرِهِits poverty
أو يُنْهَرُ الْبُؤْسُ على فَقْرِهِ
Rank is not envied for its wealth,
Status is not envied for its money
Nor misery scolded for its poverty.
Nor is poverty blamed for its lack
كمhow many شارِدٍa wanderer فيin مِصْرَEgypt ياoh كُثْرَهtheir great number
كم شارِدٍ في مِصْرَ يا كُثْرَه
منof عَدَدٍa number يَسْخُرmocks مِنْat حَصْرِهits enumeration
من عَدَدٍ يَسْخُر مِنْ حَصْرِه
How many wanderers in Egypt—how numerous!
How many astray in Egypt, O its abundance!
A number that mocks being counted.
From a number that mocks its count
ذَخِيرةُthe treasure of الأمةthe nation أبناؤهاits children
ذَخِيرةُ الأمة أبناؤها
ماذاwhat أفادَgained النيلُthe Nile منfrom ذُخْرِهits treasure
ماذا أفادَ النيلُ من ذُخْرِه
The nation's treasure is its children;
A nation's treasure is its children
What has the Nile gained from its treasure?
What use was the Nile with its reserves?
ماذاwhat أفادَgained النيلُthe Nile منfrom ساعدٍan arm
ماذا أفادَ النيلُ من ساعدٍ
أسْرَعَquicker مِنْthan ضِغْثٍa bundle of stalks إِلىto كَسْرِهits breaking
أسْرَعَ مِنْ ضِغْثٍ إِلى كَسْرِه
What has the Nile gained from an arm
What use was the Nile of an arm
That breaks sooner than a bundle of stalks?
Quick to break more than a twig?
وأَرْجلٍand legs أوْهَنَweaker منthan هَمْسةٍa whisper
وأَرْجلٍ أوْهَنَ من هَمْسةٍ
ومنand than نسيمthe breeze of الصبحmorning فيin مَرِّهits passing
ومن نسيم الصبح في مَرِّه
And from legs weaker than a whisper,
And legs weaker than a whisper
And than the morning breeze in passing?
And the morning breeze in its passing
ومنand from فتاةٍa girl فَجْرُهاher dawn لَيْلُهاher night
ومن فتاةٍ فَجْرُها لَيْلُها
ومنand from غُلامٍa boy ضَلَّlost his way فيin فَجْرِهhis dawn
ومن غُلامٍ ضَلَّ في فَجْرِه
And from a girl whose dawn is her night,
And a girl whose dawn is her night
And from a boy lost at his dawn?
And a boy who strays in his youth
ألْقَتْهُcast him away مِصْرٌEgypt هَمَلاًneglected ضائعاًlost
ألْقَتْهُ مِصْرٌ هَمَلاً ضائعاً
فصالso he attacked يَبْغِيseeking الثارَrevenge مِنon مِصْرِهِhis Egypt
فصال يَبْغِي الثارَ مِن مِصْرِهِ
Egypt cast him away, neglected and lost,
Egypt discarded him, lost and confused
So he attacked, seeking vengeance on his Egypt.
So he parted seeking vengeance from Egypt
غاصَplunged منof الآثامِsins فيinto آسِنٍstagnant water
غاصَ من الآثامِ في آسِنٍ
يَكرَعُdrinks deeply مِلْءَa full الفَمِmouth منof مُرِّهits bitterness
يَكرَعُ مِلْءَ الفَمِ من مُرِّه
He plunged into stagnant waters of sin,
Plunged in sins up to his throat
Drinking mouthfuls of their bitterness.
Swallowing a mouthful of its bitterness
أسرَىmore stealthy منthan الليلnight وأمْضَىand more forceful يَداًin hand
أسرَى من الليل وأمْضَى يَداً
منthan عَبَثِthe mischief of الليلnight ومنand than مَكْرِهits cunning
من عَبَثِ الليل ومن مَكْرِه
More stealthy than night, and more ruthless of hand
Taken by the night and passing a hand
Than night's mischief and its cunning.
In the night's frivolity and its cunning
كمhow often ضاقwas distressed منby شِقْوَتهhis misery عَصْرُهُhis age
كم ضاق من شِقْوَته عَصْرُهُ
وضاقand he was distressed بالسُّخْطِwith anger علىat عَصْرِهhis age
وضاق بالسُّخْطِ على عَصْرِه
How often his age chafed at his misery,
How narrow his time felt from his misery
And he chafed in anger against his age!
And narrow from anger at his time
شَجاًa lodged bone بِحَلْقِin the throat of الوَطَنِthe homeland الْمُفْتَدَىransomed
شَجاً بِحَلْقِ الوَطَنِ الْمُفْتَدَى
وشَوْكَةٌand a thorn كالنَّصْلِlike a blade فيin ظَهْرِهits back
وشَوْكَةٌ كالنَّصْلِ في ظَهْرِه
A bone in the throat of the ransomed homeland,
Thorn in the throat of the ransomed homeland
And a thorn like a blade in its back.
And a prick like a blade in its back
مدْرَسةُa school of النشْلِpickpocketing وَسَلِّand drawing المُدَىknives
مدْرَسةُ النشْلِ وَسَلِّ المُدَى
أسَّسَهاfounded it الشيْطانُthe devil فيin جُحرِهhis burrow
أسَّسَها الشيْطانُ في جُحرِه
A school of picking pockets and drawing knives,
The school of decadence and wasted influence
Founded by the devil in his burrow.
The devil established it in his den
إذاif هَوَىfalls الْخُلقcharacter وضاعand is lost الحِجَاreason
إذا هَوَى الْخُلق وضاع الحِجَا
فكلُّthen every شَيْءٍthing ضاعis lost فيin إثْرِهits wake
فكلُّ شَيْءٍ ضاع في إثْرِه
If character falls and reason is lost,
When morals fall, pillars collapse
Then everything is lost in its wake.
And everything collapses thereafter
منwhoever يُصْلِحreforms الأُسْرةَthe family يصْلِحْrepairs بهاthrough it
من يُصْلِح الأُسْرةَ يصْلِحْ بها
ماwhat دَمَّرَdestroyed الإِفسادُcorruption فيin قُطْرِهِhis land
ما دَمَّرَ الإِفسادُ في قُطْرِهِ
Whoever reforms the family repairs through it
Who reforms the family reforms through it
What corruption has destroyed in his land.
What corruption ruined in its region
جنايةُthe crime of الوالدِthe father نَبْذُcasting out ابنهِhis son
جنايةُ الوالدِ نَبْذُ ابنهِ
فيin عُسْرِهhis hardship إنْif كانit be أوor يُسْرِهhis prosperity
في عُسْرِه إنْ كان أو يُسْرِه
A father's crime is casting out his son,
A father's crime is discarding his son
Whether in hardship or prosperity.
In hardship, whether ease or strain
لاnot تَتْرُكُabandons الذِئْبَةُthe she-wolf أجْراءَهاher pups
لا تَتْرُكُ الذِئْبَةُ أجْراءَها
ولاnor يغيبُis absent الكلبُthe dog عنfrom وَجْرِهits den
ولا يغيبُ الكلبُ عن وَجْرِه
The she-wolf does not abandon her pups,
The she-wolf does not abandon her cubs
Nor does the dog desert its den.
Nor does the dog stray from its lair
البَيْتُthe home صَحْراءُa desert إذاif لمdo not تَجِدْyou find
البَيْتُ صَحْراءُ إذا لم تَجِدْ
طفُولةًchildhood تَمْرَحُromping فيin كِسْرِهits nook
طفُولةً تَمْرَحُ في كِسْرِه
The home is a desert if you do not find
A home is a desert when you do not find
Childhood romping in its nook.
Childhood frolicking in its courtyard
فعاقبواso punish الآباءَthe fathers إنْif قصَّرواthey are negligent
فعاقبوا الآباءَ إنْ قصَّروا
لابُدَّit is necessary للسادِرِfor the heedless one منto receive زَجْرِهhis rebuke
لابُدَّ للسادِرِ من زَجْرِه
So punish fathers if they are negligent;
So punish the fathers if they fall short
The heedless must be rebuked.
The disobedient must be deterred
وأنقذواand rescue الطفْلَthe child فماfor what is ذَنْبُهhis fault
وأنقذوا الطفْلَ فما ذَنْبُه
إِنْif جَمَحَruns wild الوالدُthe father فيin خُسْرِهhis ruin
إِنْ جَمَحَ الوالدُ في خُسْرِه
And save the child—what is his fault
And rescue the child, for what is his sin
If the father runs headlong into ruin?
If the father is foolish in his loss?
رَبُّوهُraise him يَنْموhe will grow ثَمَراًfruit طيِّباًwholesome
رَبُّوهُ يَنْمو ثَمَراً طيِّباً
لاnot ييأسُdespairs الزراعُthe sower منof بَذْرِهِits seed
لا ييأسُ الزراعُ من بَذْرِهِ
Raise him: he will grow into wholesome fruit,
Raise him, and he will grow good fruit
Whose seed the sower will not despair of.
The farmer does not despair of his seed
وعلِّموهُand teach him عَملاًwork صالحاًuseful
وعلِّموهُ عَملاً صالحاً
يَشُدُّstrengthens إنif كافَحَhe struggles منof أَزْرِهhis strength
يَشُدُّ إن كافَحَ من أَزْرِه
And teach him useful work
And teach him righteous work
To strengthen him when he struggles.
To support him if he struggles with his burden
ربُّوهraise him فيin الريفِthe countryside لعلَّperhaps القرَىthe villages
ربُّوه في الريفِ لعلَّ القرَى
تُصْلِحُwill mend ماwhat أَعْضَلَhas become intractable منof أمْرِهhis condition
تُصْلِحُ ما أَعْضَلَ من أمْرِه
Raise him in the countryside; perhaps the villages
Raise him in the countryside, perhaps the villages
Will mend what has become intractable in his condition.
Will reform what went awry in his affair
النفْسُthe soul مِرْآةٌa mirror وغُصْنُand the branch of النَّقَاthe sand dune
النفْسُ مِرْآةٌ وغُصْنُ النَّقَا
يَطيبُgrows good أوor يَخْبُثُgrows foul منfrom جذْرِهits root
يَطيبُ أو يَخْبُثُ من جذْرِه
The soul is a mirror, and the sand-dune's branch
The soul is a mirror, and the sapling of growth
Grows good or foul according to its root.
Will be purified or tainted from its root
لعلّperhaps هَمْسَthe whisper of الغُصنِthe branch فيin أُذْنِهhis ear
لعلّ هَمْسَ الغُصنِ في أُذْنِه
يُنْسِيهِmakes him forget ماwhat أضْمَرَhe harbored منof ثَأْرِهhis vengeance
يُنْسِيهِ ما أضْمَرَ من ثَأْرِه
Perhaps the branch's whisper in his ear
Perhaps the whisper of the branch in his ear
Will make him forget the vengeance he harbored.
Will make him forget what he harbored of resentment
لعلّperhaps أنْفاسَthe breaths of نسيمthe breeze of الرُّباthe hills
لعلّ أنْفاسَ نسيم الرُّبا
فيin صَدْرِهhis breast تُبْرِدُcool منsome of جَمْرِهhis embers
في صَدْرِه تُبْرِدُ من جَمْرِه
Perhaps the breaths of the hillside breeze
Perhaps the breaths of the meadow's breeze
Will cool the embers within his breast.
In his chest will cool the embers within
النيلُthe Nile يستنجِدُcalls for rescue مُسْتَنْصِراًseeking help
النيلُ يستنجِدُ مُسْتَنْصِراً
فأَسْرعواso hasten الْخَطْوَyour steps إلىto نَصْرِهits aid
فأَسْرعوا الْخَطْوَ إلى نَصْرِه
The Nile calls for rescue, seeking help;
The Nile calls for help seeking aid
So hasten your steps to its aid.
So quicken your steps to its victory
لاnot يذهبُis lost المعروفُkindness فيin لُجَّةٍthe deep
لا يذهبُ المعروفُ في لُجَّةٍ
ولاnor يَكُفُّceases الْمِسْكُmusk عنfrom نَشْرِهspreading its scent
ولا يَكُفُّ الْمِسْكُ عن نَشْرِه
Kindness is never lost in the deep,
Kindness does not vanish into the depths
Nor does musk cease to spread its scent.
Nor does musk cease its diffusion
Sol 6.1