حِجرٌa ban عَلىupon الناسِmankind حِجرٌa ban لَيتَif only أَنَّهُمُthat they
حِجرٌ عَلى الناسِ حِجرٌ لَيتَ أَنَّهُمُ
مِثلَlike الحِجارَةِstones لاnot ماتواthey died وَلاand not نَبِسواthey uttered a word
مِثلَ الحِجارَةِ لا ماتوا وَلا نَبِسوا
Restraint upon humankind—restraint! Would that they were
A ban upon mankind, a ban! Would that they were
like stones: neither dying nor ever speaking.
Like stones, neither dying nor uttering a word.
جاؤُواthey came بِدَعوىwith a claim فَلَمّاthen when حُصِّلَتit was examined وجِدَتit was found
جاؤُوا بِدَعوى فَلَمّا حُصِّلَت وجِدَت
مِثلَlike الهَباءِdust motes وَقيلَand it was said الأَمرُthe matter مُلتَبِسُambiguous
مِثلَ الهَباءِ وَقيلَ الأَمرُ مُلتَبِسُ
They came with a claim; but when it was examined, it proved
They came with a claim; when it was examined, it was found
like motes of dust, and it was said, “The matter is unclear.”
Like dust; and it was said, "The matter is unclear."
وَالقَومُand the people شُرٌّevil فَلاso do not يَسرُركَplease you إِنif بَسَطواthey brightened
وَالقَومُ شُرٌّ فَلا يَسرُركَ إِن بَسَطوا
لَكَto you الوُجوهَthe faces وَلاand do not يُحزِنكَsadden you إِنif عَبَسواthey scowled
لَكَ الوُجوهَ وَلا يُحزِنكَ إِن عَبَسوا
The people are evil: let it not delight you when they show
And the people are evil; do not be pleased if they show
you welcoming faces, nor grieve you when they frown.
You cheerful faces, nor grieve if they scowl.
أَمرٌa matter بَداappeared ثُمَّthen أَخفىconcealed شَأنَهُits nature قَدَرٌfate
أَمرٌ بَدا ثُمَّ أَخفى شَأنَهُ قَدَرٌ
كَالنارِlike the fire ماتَتit died out فَلَمso ... not يُنشَرbe revived لَهاfor it قَبَسُa flame
كَالنارِ ماتَت فَلَم يُنشَر لَها قَبَسُ
A matter appeared, then Fate concealed its truth—
A matter appeared, then fate concealed its nature,
like a fire that died, with no brand raised to revive it.
Like a fire that died, with no flame revived for it.
وَخامِلٌand an obscure man ماnot نَأَتdeparted عَنهُfrom him اباهَتُهُhis discernment
وَخامِلٌ ما نَأَت عَنهُ اباهَتُهُ
كَأَنَّهُas though he were الجَمرُembers غَطّىcovered ضَوءَهُits glow اليَبَسُdry fuel
كَأَنَّهُ الجَمرُ غَطّى ضَوءَهُ اليَبَسُ
Dim is that from which its splendor has withdrawn,
And an obscure man whose discernment has not deserted him
as though it were an ember whose glow dry tinder veiled.
Is like embers whose glow dry fuel has covered.
دُنيايَmy world هَلis there? لِيَfor me زادٌprovision أَستَعينُI seek aid بِهِwith it
دُنيايَ هَل لِيَ زادٌ أَستَعينُ بِهِ
عَلىfor الرَحيلِdeparture فَإِنّيfor indeed I فيكِin you مُحتَبَسُimprisoned
عَلى الرَحيلِ فَإِنّي فيكِ مُحتَبَسُ
My world, have I provisions by which to sustain myself
My world, have I any provision with which to help myself
upon the journey? For within you I am held captive.
On my departure? For I am imprisoned in you.
Sol 6.1