لا بُدَّ لِلروحِ أَن تَنأى عَنِ الجَسَدِ

لا بُدَّ لِلروحِ أَن تَنأى عَنِ الجَسَدِ

فَلا تُخَيِّم عَلى الأَضغانِ وَالحَسَدِ

فَلا تُخَيِّم عَلى الأَضغانِ وَالحَسَدِ

The soul must depart from the body;

The spirit must shun the body,

so do not camp amid grudges and envy.

Let it not brood on grudges and envy,

وَاِجعَل لِعَزمَتِكَ الظَلماءَ ناجِيَةً

وَاِجعَل لِعَزمَتِكَ الظَلماءَ ناجِيَةً

نُجومُها كَعُلوبِ النِسعِ وَالمَسَدِ

نُجومُها كَعُلوبِ النِسعِ وَالمَسَدِ

And make the dark night a swift she-camel for your resolve,

Make your dark resolve eloquent,

its stars like scars left by leather saddle-straps and twisted rope.

Its stars like the claws of eagle and lion.

فَهَل تُحاذِر مِن طَعنِ السِماكِ رَداً

فَهَل تُحاذِر مِن طَعنِ السِماكِ رَداً

أَم بِالهِلالِ تُوَقّى مَخلِبَ الأَسَدِ

أَم بِالهِلالِ تُوَقّى مَخلِبَ الأَسَدِ

So do you fear death from Simāk’s thrust,

Will you then take heed against the stab of critics

or are you shielded by the crescent from the Lion’s claw?

Or with the crescent parry the lion’s claw?

مَن لا يُسئِد وَيَسنِد في حَنادِسِهِ

مَن لا يُسئِد وَيَسنِد في حَنادِسِهِ

وَيُسدِ خَيراً إِلى العافينَ لا يَسُدِ

وَيُسدِ خَيراً إِلى العافينَ لا يَسُدِ

Whoever does not travel by night and climb through his pitch-dark nights,

He who gives not foundation and prop to his tents,

and bestow good on those seeking help, will not attain leadership.

Who dams not good to the prospering – dams not.

حَملُ المَدَجَّجِ تَركاً فَوقَ هامَتِهِ

حَملُ المَدَجَّجِ تَركاً فَوقَ هامَتِهِ

أَشَفُّ لِلرَأسِ مِن وَضعٍ عَلى الوُسُدِ

أَشَفُّ لِلرَأسِ مِن وَضعٍ عَلى الوُسُدِ

The armored warrior’s bearing a helmet upon his head

To bear the coat of mail atop his stature

is lighter on the head than resting it upon pillows.

Is better for the head than to rest on pillows.

وَضَربَةُ القِرنِ في الهَيجاءِ مُنتَصِراً

وَضَربَةُ القِرنِ في الهَيجاءِ مُنتَصِراً

أَولى بِهِ مِن خِصامِ الجيرَةِ الفُسُدِ

أَولى بِهِ مِن خِصامِ الجيرَةِ الفُسُدِ

And a blow struck against an adversary in battle, in triumph,

And the blow of the horn, triumphant in fray,

is more fitting for him than quarreling with corrupt neighbors.

Befits him more than disputing an envious tribe.

وَمُغرَمٌ بِالمَخازي طّالِبٌ صَلَةً

وَمُغرَمٌ بِالمَخازي طّالِبٌ صَلَةً

مُغَرّى بِتَنفيقِ أَشعارٍ لَهُ كُسُدِ

مُغَرّى بِتَنفيقِ أَشعارٍ لَهُ كُسُدِ

And one enamored of shameful deeds, seeking a gift,

And loving the wine-skins, seeking a draught,

is intent on marketing his unsalable poems.

Is nobler than composing vapid verse.