هَلْhas? بَانَparted قَلْبُكَyour heart مِنْfrom سُلَيْمَىSulayma فَاشْتَفَىand so found relief
هَلْ بَانَ قَلْبُكَ مِنْ سُلَيْمَى فَاشْتَفَى
ولَقَدْand indeed غَنِيْتَyou lived contentedly بِحُبِّهَاin her love فِيْمَاduring what مَضَىpassed
ولَقَدْ غَنِيْتَ بِحُبِّهَا فِيْمَا مَضَى
Has your heart parted from Sulayma and found relief?
Has your heart recovered from Sulayma and yearned?
Indeed, you lived contentedly in her love in days gone by.
Though you were enriched by her love in days gone by
أَبلِغtell أَباAbu حُمرانَHumran أَنَّthat عَشيرَتيmy kinsmen
أَبلِغ أَبا حُمرانَ أَنَّ عَشيرَتي
ناجواthey conferred secretly وَلِلنَّفَرِand for the band المُناجينَconferring secretly التَوىruin
ناجوا وَلِلنَّفَرِ المُناجينَ التَوى
Tell Abu Humran that my kinsmen
Tell Abu Humran that my people
Have conferred in secret—ruin to those conspirators!
Confided and solitary souls find intimacy
باعواthey sold جَوادَهُمُtheir noble steed لِتَسمَنَso she might grow fat أُمُّهُمtheir mother
باعوا جَوادَهُمُ لِتَسمَنَ أُمُّهُم
وَلِكَيand so that يَبيتَhe spends the night عَلىupon فِراشِهِمُtheir bed فَتىa young man
وَلِكَي يَبيتَ عَلى فِراشِهِمُ فَتى
They sold their noble steed so their mother might grow fat,
They sold their steeds to fatten their mothers
And so a young man might spend the night upon their bed:
So a gallant could sleep on their beds
عِلجٌa burly foreigner إِذاwhen ماever اِبتَزَّstripped off عَنهاfrom her ثَوبَهاher garment
عِلجٌ إِذا ما اِبتَزَّ عَنها ثَوبَها
وَتَخامَصَتand she drew in her belly قالَتshe said لَهُto him ماذاwhat تَرىdo you see
وَتَخامَصَت قالَت لَهُ ماذا تَرى
A burly foreigner who, when he stripped her garment from her,
A cure, when she unveils herself from him
And she drew in her belly, heard her ask, “What do you see?”
And they whisper, she says to him "What do you think?"
لَكِنbut قَعَيدَةُthe woman presiding over بَيتِناour house مَجفُوَّةٌneglected
لَكِن قَعَيدَةُ بَيتِنا مَجفُوَّةٌ
بادٍshowing جَناجِنُthe breastbones of صَدرِهاher chest وَلَهاand she has غِنىwealth
بادٍ جَناجِنُ صَدرِها وَلَها غِنى
But the woman of our household is neglected,
But the old woman of our house is withered
Her breastbones showing, although she has wealth.
Her chest bones are visible and she is content
تُقفيshe favors with provisions بِعيشَةِwith the sustenance of أَهلِهاher family مَلبونَةًa milk-fed mare
تُقفي بِعيشَةِ أَهلِها مَلبونَةً
أَوor جُرشُعاًa great stallion عَبلَstout in المَحازِمِthe girth وَالشَوىand the limbs
أَو جُرشُعاً عَبلَ المَحازِمِ وَالشَوى
She favors with her family's sustenance a milk-fed mare,
She is satisfied with providing for her family
Or a great stallion, stout of girth and limb.
Bread soaked in broth or grilled meat and kabobs
مَنwhoever كانَis كارِهَdisliking عَيشِهِhis life فَلَيَأتِناthen let him come to us
مَن كانَ كارِهَ عَيشِهِ فَلَيَأتِنا
يَلقَhe will meet المَنِيَّةَdeath أَوor يَؤوبَreturn لَهُhe has غِنىwealth
يَلقَ المَنِيَّةَ أَو يَؤوبَ لَهُ غِنى
Whoever dislikes his life, let him come to us:
Whoever dislikes his life, let him come to us
He will meet death or return possessing wealth.
He will find death or gain wealth
وَلَقَدand indeed عَلِمتُI learned عَلىdespite تَجَنُّبِيَmy avoidance of الرَدىdestruction
وَلَقَد عَلِمتُ عَلى تَجَنُّبِيَ الرَدى
أَنَّthat الحُصونَthe fortresses الخَيلُare horses لاnot مَدَرُthe clay walls of القُرىvillages
أَنَّ الحُصونَ الخَيلُ لا مَدَرُ القُرى
Indeed, despite my avoidance of destruction, I have learned
I knew from avoiding the depraved
That horses are fortresses, not the clay walls of villages.
That steeds, not homes, bring safety
راحواthey departed بَصائِرُهُمtheir shields عَلىupon أَكتافِهِمtheir shoulders
راحوا بَصائِرُهُم عَلى أَكتافِهِم
وَبَصيرَتيand my shield يَعدوgallops بِهاbearing it عَتَدٌa sturdy steed وَأىpowerful
وَبَصيرَتي يَعدو بِها عَتَدٌ وَأى
They departed with their shields upon their shoulders;
They went away, their sights on their shoulders
My shield is borne at a gallop by a sturdy, powerful steed.
While my insight gallops with a young camel
نَهدُstrong in المَراكِلِthe flanks لاnot يَزالُceases زَميلُهُhis rider
نَهدُ المَراكِلِ لا يَزالُ زَميلُهُ
فَوقَupon الرِحالَةِthe saddle ماnot يُباليcares ماwhat أَتىcomes
فَوقَ الرِحالَةِ ما يُبالي ما أَتى
Strong in the flanks, his rider remains
The swaying of the riding camels continues
Upon the saddle, heedless of whatever comes.
Above the rider, heedless of what came
أَمّاas for إِذاwhen اِستَدبَرتَهُyou view him from behind فَتَسوقُهُthen drives him
أَمّا إِذا اِستَدبَرتَهُ فَتَسوقُهُ
رِجلٌa leg قَموصُspringing in الوَقعِits strike عارِيَةُbare of flesh along النَساthe thigh-sinew
رِجلٌ قَموصُ الوَقعِ عارِيَةُ النَسا
When you view him from behind, he is driven by
But if you drive him from behind, you make him walk
A leg springing at each strike, lean along the thigh-sinew.
A man with calloused feet and bare legs
أَمّاas for إِذاwhen اِستَعرَضتَهُyou view him from the side مُتَمَطِّراًgalloping
أَمّا إِذا اِستَعرَضتَهُ مُتَمَطِّراً
فَتَقولُthen you say هَذاthis مِثلُis like سِرحانِthe wolf of الغَضاthe ghada thickets
فَتَقولُ هَذا مِثلُ سِرحانِ الغَضا
When you view him from the side, galloping,
But if you look at him, dripping wet
You say, “He is like a wolf of the ghada thickets.”
You say "This is like an unbroken colt"
أَمّاas for إِذاwhen اِستَقبَلتَهُyou face him فَكَأَنَّهُthen he is like
أَمّا إِذا اِستَقبَلتَهُ فَكَأَنَّهُ
بازٌa hawk يُكَفكِفُholds itself back أَنfrom يَطيرَflying وَقَدand already رَأىhas seen
بازٌ يُكَفكِفُ أَن يَطيرَ وَقَد رَأى
When you face him, he seems
But if you face him, it is as if he is
A hawk holding back from flight after sighting its prey.
A lark, hesitant to fly though it has seen
إِنّيindeed I وَجَدتُfound الخَيلَhorses عِزّاًa source of might ظاهِراًmanifest
إِنّي وَجَدتُ الخَيلَ عِزّاً ظاهِراً
تَنجيthey save مِنَfrom الغُمّىanguish وَيَكشِفنَand they dispel الدُجىthe darkness
تَنجي مِنَ الغُمّى وَيَكشِفنَ الدُجى
I have found horses a manifest source of might:
I found steeds to be manifest honor
They save from anguish and dispel the darkness.
Saving from gloom and revealing the darkness
وَيَبِتنَand they spend the night بِالثَغرِat the frontier المَخوفِthe dreaded طَوالِعاًkeeping watch
وَيَبِتنَ بِالثَغرِ المَخوفِ طَوالِعاً
وَيُثِبنَand they bestow لِلصُعلوكِupon the pauper جَمَّةَthe abundance of ذيthe possessor of الغِنىwealth
وَيُثِبنَ لِلصُعلوكِ جَمَّةَ ذي الغِنى
They spend the night keeping watch at the dreaded frontier,
Spending nights at a frightening border
And bestow upon the pauper the abundance of the wealthy.
Leaping for the insolent, the wealthy
وَإِذاand when رَأَيتَyou see مُحارِباًa fighter وَمُسالِماًand a man at peace
وَإِذا رَأَيتَ مُحارِباً وَمُسالِماً
فَليَبِنيthen let him build عِندَbeside المُحارِبِthe fighter مَنwhoever بَغىwishes
فَليَبِني عِندَ المُحارِبِ مَن بَغى
When you see a fighter and a man at peace,
When you see a warrior and a pacifist
Let whoever wishes build his dwelling beside the fighter.
Let the warrior be judged where he wishes
وَخصاصَةُand the need of الجُعفِيِّthe Ju'fi ماas long as صاحَبتَهُyou keep him company
وَخصاصَةُ الجُعفِيِّ ما صاحَبتَهُ
لاnot تَنقَضيends أَبَداًever وَإِنeven if قيلَit is said اِنقَضىit ended
لا تَنقَضي أَبَداً وَإِن قيلَ اِنقَضى
The Ju'fi's need, as long as you keep his company,
The fellowship of Al-Ju'fi is unending
Never ends, even if they say, “It has ended.”
Even if it is said to have ended
إِخوانُbrothers of صِدقٍtruth ماas long as رَأَوكَthey see you بِغِبطَةٍin prosperity
إِخوانُ صِدقٍ ما رَأَوكَ بِغِبطَةٍ
فَإِنِbut if اِفتَقَرَتyou become poor فَقَدthen indeed هَوىfell بِكَwith you ماwhatever هَوىfell
فَإِنِ اِفتَقَرَت فَقَد هَوى بِكَ ما هَوى
They are true brothers while they see you prosper;
Brothers of truth did not see you aggrieved
But if you grow poor, whatever falls takes you down with it.
If you become needy, what befell you, befell them
مَسَحواthey wiped لِحاهُمtheir beards ثُمَّthen قالواthey said سالِمواmake peace
مَسَحوا لِحاهُم ثُمَّ قالوا سالِموا
ياoh لَيتَنيwould that I were فيamong القَومِthe men إِذاwhen مَسَحواthey wiped اللِحىthe beards
يا لَيتَني في القَومِ إِذا مَسَحوا اللِحى
They wiped their beards, then said, “Make peace.”
They wiped their beards, then said "Greetings"
Would that I were among the men when they wiped their beards!
Would that I were among the people when they stroked their beards!
وكَتيبَةٍand many a troop لَبَّستُهاI entangled it بِكَتيبَةٍwith a troop
وكَتيبَةٍ لَبَّستُها بِكَتيبَةٍ
حَتّىuntil تَقولَsay سَراتُهُمtheir chiefs هَذاthis الفَتىyoung warrior
حَتّى تَقولَ سَراتُهُم هَذا الفَتى
Many a troop I have entangled with another troop,
And a band I outfitted with a band
Until their chiefs say, “This is the young warrior!”
Until their elite said "This is the young man"
لاnot يَشتَكونَthey complain of المَوتَdeath غَيرexcept تَغَمغُمٍa muffled murmur
لا يَشتَكونَ المَوتَ غَير تَغَمغُمٍ
حَكَّthe rubbing of الجِمالِcamels جُنوبَهُنَّtheir flanks مِنَbecause of الشَذاgadflies
حَكَّ الجِمالِ جُنوبَهُنَّ مِنَ الشَذا
Their only complaint of death is a muffled murmur,
They do not complain of death but with a moan
Like camels rubbing their flanks because of gadflies.
The camels' flanks marked by the howdahs
يَخرُجنَthey emerge مِنfrom خَلَلِthe gaps in الغُبارِthe dust عَوابِساًscowling
يَخرُجنَ مِن خَلَلِ الغُبارِ عَوابِساً
كَأَصابِعِlike the fingers of المَقرورِthe chilled man أَقعىhe squatted فَاِصطَلىthen warmed himself at a fire
كَأَصابِعِ المَقرورِ أَقعى فَاِصطَلى
They emerge through gaps in the dust, grim-faced,
Emerging from the midst of dust angry
Like the fingers of a chilled man squatting to warm himself at a fire.
Like clenched fingers, tawny, joined
يَتَخالَسونَthey snatch from one another نُفوسَهُمtheir lives بِنَوافِذٍwith piercing thrusts
يَتَخالَسونَ نُفوسَهُم بِنَوافِذٍ
فَكَأَنَّماand so it is as though عَضَّbit الكُماةُthe armored warriors عَلىon الحَصىpebbles
فَكَأَنَّما عَضَّ الكُماةُ عَلى الحَصى
They snatch one another's lives with piercing thrusts,
They plot against themselves with glimpses
As though the armored warriors were biting pebbles.
As if scorpions bit granite
فَإِذاand when شَدَدتُI charge شَدَدتُI charge غَيرَwithout مُكَذِّبٍfaltering
فَإِذا شَدَدتُ شَدَدتُ غَيرَ مُكَذِّبٍ
وَإِذاand when طَعَنتُI thrust كَسَرتُI break رُمحيmy spear أَوor مَضىit passes through
وَإِذا طَعَنتُ كَسَرتُ رُمحي أَو مَضى
When I charge, I charge without faltering;
When I am firm, I am firm without lying
When I thrust, I break my spear or drive it through.
And when I pierce, I break my spear or it goes
مِنfrom among وُلدِthe descendants of أَودٍAwd عارِضيthose presenting أَرماحَهُمtheir spears
مِن وُلدِ أَودٍ عارِضي أَرماحَهُم
أَنهَلتُهُمI gave them a first draught باهيboasted المُباهيthe boaster وَاِنتَمىand claimed descent
أَنهَلتُهُم باهي المُباهي وَاِنتَمى
Those descendants of Awd who opposed me with their spears—
The descendants of Awad, I confronted their spears
I gave them their first draught; the boaster boasted and claimed descent.
I routed them, excellent in glory and distinction
ياoh رُبَّmany a عَرجَلَةٍband on foot أَصابواthey encountered خَلَّةًwant
يا رُبَّ عَرجَلَةٍ أَصابوا خَلَّةً
دَأَبواthey toiled وَحارَand was bewildered دَليلُهُمtheir guide حَتّىuntil بَكىhe wept
دَأَبوا وَحارَ دَليلُهُم حَتّى بَكى
Many a band on foot encountered want;
O people of 'Arjalah, they came upon a gap
They toiled, and their guide lost his way until he wept.
They went about while their guide despaired until he cried
باتَتspent the night شَآمِيَةُfrom al-Sham الرِياحِthe winds تَلُفُّهُمwrapping them
باتَت شَآمِيَةُ الرِياحِ تَلُفُّهُم
حَتّىuntil أَتَوناthey came to us بَعدَafter ماthat سَقَطَfell النَدىthe dew
حَتّى أَتَونا بَعدَ ما سَقَطَ النَدى
The winds of al-Sham wrapped them through the night,
The winds of Syria surrounded them
Until they came to us after the dew had fallen.
Until they came to us after the dew fell
فَنَهَضتُthen I rose فيamong البَركِthe kneeling camels الهُجودِthe sleeping وَفيand in يَديmy hand
فَنَهَضتُ في البَركِ الهُجودِ وَفي يَدي
لَونُa kind of المَهَزَّةِthe brandished shaft ذوhaving كعوبٍjoints كَالنَوىlike date-stones
لَونُ المَهَزَّةِ ذو كعوبٍ كَالنَوى
Then I rose among the sleeping, kneeling camels, with in my hand
So I rose in the grove of the valley, and in my hand
A kind of brandished shaft, with joints like date-stones.
Was the color of polished wood, sturdy as saplings
أَحذَيتُI gave as a gift رُمحيmy spear عائِطاًa barren she-camel مَمكورَةًfull-fleshed
أَحذَيتُ رُمحي عائِطاً مَمكورَةً
كَوماءَhigh-humped أَطرافُthe tips of العِضاهِthorn-trees لَهاfor her خَلىgreen fodder
كَوماءَ أَطرافُ العِضاهِ لَها خَلى
I offered my spear a barren, full-fleshed she-camel,
I prodded my upright, twisted spear
High-humped, with thorn-tree tips for her green fodder.
Like the water at the spear's edges, it had folds
فَتَطايَرَتthen they scattered عَنّيaway from me وَقُمتُand I stood بِعاتِرٍwith a quivering spear
فَتَطايَرَت عَنّي وَقُمتُ بِعاتِرٍ
صَدقِfirm المَهَزَّةِwhen brandished ذيhaving كُعوبٍjoints كَالنَوىlike date-stones
صَدقِ المَهَزَّةِ ذي كُعوبٍ كَالنَوى
They scattered away from me, and I stood with a quivering spear,
They dispersed from me, and I stood with the remains
Firm when brandished, with joints like date-stones.
Of the true polished wood, sturdy as saplings
باتَتspent the night كِلابُthe dogs of الحَيِّthe encampment تَسنَحُcrossing بَينَناamong us
باتَت كِلابُ الحَيِّ تَسنَحُ بَينَنا
يَأكُلنَthey eat دَعلَجَةًfat meat وَيَشبَعُand eats his fill مَنwhoever عَفاsought bounty
يَأكُلنَ دَعلَجَةً وَيَشبَعُ مَن عَفا
The dogs of the encampment crossed among us through the night,
The dogs of the tribe howled among us
Eating fat meat, while everyone seeking bounty ate his fill.
Eating carrion, those who were spared sated
وَمِنَand among اللَياليthe nights لَيلَةٌa night مَزؤودَةٌfrightful
وَمِنَ اللَيالي لَيلَةٌ مَزؤودَةٌ
غَبراءُdust-dark لَيسَthere is no لِمَنfor whoever تَجَشَّمَهاbraves it هَدىguidance
غَبراءُ لَيسَ لِمَن تَجَشَّمَها هَدى
Among the nights was a frightful night,
Among the nights is an accursed night
Dust-dark, with no guidance for whoever braved it.
Dusty, with no guidance for the one who dared it
كَلَّفتُI made endure نَفسيmyself حَدَّهاits fierceness وَمِراسَهاand its ordeal
كَلَّفتُ نَفسي حَدَّها وَمِراسَها
وَعَلِمتُand I knew أَنَّthat القَومَthe men لَيسَhad no بِهاin it غَناmeans
وَعَلِمتُ أَنَّ القَومَ لَيسَ بِها غَنا
I made myself endure its fierceness and its ordeal,
I tasked myself to its limit and trial
And knew that the men had no means there.
And knew the people had no wealth in it
وَمُناهِبٍand many a plunderer أَقصَدتُI struck down وسطamid جُموعِهِhis hosts
وَمُناهِبٍ أَقصَدتُ وسط جُموعِهِ
وَعِشارِand pregnant she-camels of راعٍa herdsman قَدindeed أَخَذتُI seized فَماso not تُرىthey are seen
وَعِشارِ راعٍ قَد أَخَذتُ فَما تُرى
Many a plunderer I struck down amid his hosts,
I approached plunging into the midst of their crowds
And a herdsman's pregnant camels I seized, so they are seen no more.
And the tithe of the shepherd I took, so what do you think?
ظَلَّتkept سَنابِكُهاtheir hooves عَلىupon جُثمانِهِhis body
ظَلَّت سَنابِكُها عَلى جُثمانِهِ
يَلعَبنَthey play دُحروجَwith the rolling toy of الوَليدِthe child وَقَدthough already قَضىhe had died
يَلعَبنَ دُحروجَ الوَليدِ وَقَد قَضى
Their hooves kept beating upon his body,
Their corpses cast shadows upon his body
Playing with him like a child's rolling toy, though he was dead.
The sand grouse chicks played, and he was done
وَلَقَدand indeed ثَأَرتُI avenged دِماءَناour blood مِنupon واتِرٍa blood-enemy
وَلَقَد ثَأَرتُ دِماءَنا مِن واتِرٍ
فَاليَومَso today إِنif كانَhas المَنونُDeath قَدِalready اِشتَفىfound satisfaction
فَاليَومَ إِن كانَ المَنونُ قَدِ اِشتَفى
Indeed, I avenged our blood upon a blood-enemy;
I took vengeance for our blood from Water
Today, then, if Death has found satisfaction—
So if death has quenched its thirst today
بانَdeparted الخَلِيْطُthe companions ولَمْand did not أُفَارِقْI part عَنْout of قِلىhatred
بانَ الخَلِيْطُ ولَمْ أُفَارِقْ عَنْ قِلى
نَسِيَhe forgot الحَبِيْبَthe beloved وفَلَّand blunted صَبْوَتَهُhis passion القِلَىhatred
نَسِيَ الحَبِيْبَ وفَلَّ صَبْوَتَهُ القِلَى
The companions departed, though I did not part out of hatred.
The hearts' secrets were exposed, I did not abandon my heart
He forgot the beloved, and hatred blunted his passion.
He forgot his beloved and his heart's anguish subsided
إِنَّindeed المُحِبَّthe lover إِذَاwhen جَفَاهُshuns him حَبِيْبُهُhis beloved
إِنَّ المُحِبَّ إِذَا جَفَاهُ حَبِيْبُهُ
فَكَفَىthen suffices بِصُحْبَتِهِhis companionship عَنَاءًas anguish للفَتَىfor the young man
فَكَفَى بِصُحْبَتِهِ عَنَاءً للفَتَى
Indeed, when a lover is shunned by his beloved,
When a lover is spurned by his beloved
His companionship is anguish enough for the young man.
Then his company is enough of a torment for the young man
والهَمُّand sorrow مَاas long as لَمْnot تُمْضِهِyou send it away لِسَبِيْلِهِon its way
والهَمُّ مَا لَمْ تُمْضِهِ لِسَبِيْلِهِ
لَيْسَis not المُفَارِقُthe one who parts يَاO أُمَيْمَUmaym كَمَنْlike one who نَأَىwent far away
لَيْسَ المُفَارِقُ يَا أُمَيْمَ كَمَنْ نَأَى
And sorrow, so long as you do not send it on its way—
Worry, if you do not let it run its course
The one who parts, O Umaym, is not like one merely far away.
Is not like one who went far away, O Umayma
أَمَلٌhope تَبَوَّأَsettled فِيin مَنَازِلِabodes of ذِلَّةٍhumiliation
أَمَلٌ تَبَوَّأَ فِي مَنَازِلِ ذِلَّةٍ
والمَيِّتُونَand the dead شِرارُthe worst of مَنْthose تَحْتِbeneath الثَّرَىthe soil
والمَيِّتُونَ شِرارُ مَنْ تَحْتِ الثَّرَى
Hope settled in abodes of humiliation,
A hope that lodged in the abodes of disgrace
And the dead are the worst of those beneath the soil.
And the living are the worst of those under the soil
أَحْيَاؤُهُمْtheir living عَارٌa disgrace عَلَىto مَوتَاهُمُtheir dead
أَحْيَاؤُهُمْ عَارٌ عَلَى مَوتَاهُمُ
ومَتَىand whenever تُفَارِقْهُمْyou part from them تُفَارِقْyou part عَنْout of قِلىhatred
ومَتَى تُفَارِقْهُمْ تُفَارِقْ عَنْ قِلى
Their living are a disgrace to their dead;
Their lives are a disgrace compared to their deaths
Whenever you part from them, you part out of hatred.
Both accompanying them and parting are treason
وإِذَاand if تُصَاحِبُهُمْyou befriend them تُصَاحِبُyou befriend خَانَةًtraitors
وإِذَا تُصَاحِبُهُمْ تُصَاحِبُ خَانَةً
وإِذَاand when عَوَىhowls ذِيْبٌa wolf بِصَاحِبِهِto its companion عَوَىit howls back
وإِذَا عَوَى ذِيْبٌ بِصَاحِبِهِ عَوَى
If you befriend them, you befriend traitors;
If a wolf howls for his companion, he howls
When a wolf howls to its companion, the other howls back.
They are not roused to fear their neighbor
لاnot يَفْزَعُونَthey rush to help إِلَىat مَخَافَةِthe fear of جَارِهِمْtheir neighbor
لا يَفْزَعُونَ إِلَى مَخَافَةِ جَارِهِمْ
أَمْor هَلْis there لِحَتْفٍfrom a death رَاصِدٍlying in wait مِنْany مُنْتَأَىescape
أَمْ هَلْ لِحَتْفٍ رَاصِدٍ مِنْ مُنْتَأَى
They do not rush to help when their neighbor is afraid.
Or does the ambush of a hidden foe threaten them
Or is there any escape from death lying in wait?
From a place far away?
هَلْis there فِيin السَّمَاءِthe sky لِصَاعِدٍfor a climber مِنْany مُرْتَقًىway of ascent
هَلْ فِي السَّمَاءِ لِصَاعِدٍ مِنْ مُرْتَقًى
سِيَّانِalike فِيْهِin it مَنْwhoever تَصَعْلَكَbecame destitute واقْتَنَىand amassed possessions
سِيَّانِ فِيْهِ مَنْ تَصَعْلَكَ واقْتَنَى
Is there a way into the sky for one who climbs?
Is there in the sky a climbing place for one ascending
In it, the destitute and those who amassed possessions are alike.
It is the same for one who climbs up and acquires
للهِto God belongs دَرُّكَyour excellence مِنْas a سَبِيْلٍpath واضِحٍclear
للهِ دَرُّكَ مِنْ سَبِيْلٍ واضِحٍ
إِذْsince لاno ذَلِيْلَabject one أَذَلُّmore abject مِنْthan وادِيWadi القُرَىal-Qura
إِذْ لا ذَلِيْلَ أَذَلُّ مِنْ وادِي القُرَى
God bless you—what a clear path!
By God, you are excellent in the clear path
For none is more abject than Wadi al-Qura.
Since no lowland is more disgraceful than the valleys' road
عَجَبًاin amazement عَجِبْتُI marveled لِمَنْat whoever يُدَنِّسُsullies عِرْضَهُhis honor
عَجَبًا عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ يُدَنِّسُ عِرْضَهُ
والعِرْضُand honor بَعْدَafter ذَهَابِهِits loss لاnot يُشْتَرَىcan be bought
والعِرْضُ بَعْدَ ذَهَابِهِ لا يُشْتَرَى
In amazement I marveled at whoever sullies his honor:
Strange is he who defiles his honor
Honor, once lost, cannot be bought back.
When honor after its loss cannot be bought
والثَّوبُand a garment يَخْلَقُwears out ثُمَّthen يُشَرَىis bought غَيْرُهُanother in its place
والثَّوبُ يَخْلَقُ ثُمَّ يُشَرَى غَيْرُهُ
ويَصُونُand he safeguards حُلَّتَهُhis robe يُوَقِّيْهَاprotecting it from الأَذَىharm
ويَصُونُ حُلَّتَهُ يُوَقِّيْهَا الأَذَى
A garment wears out, then another is bought;
A garment is worn out, then another bought
Yet he safeguards his robe, protecting it from harm.
He protects his garb, guarding it from harm
إلاexcept رَوَاكِدَmotionless things بَيْنَهُنَّbetween them خَصَاصَةٌa gap
إلا رَوَاكِدَ بَيْنَهُنَّ خَصَاصَةٌ
سُفْعَdarkened المَنَاكِبِat the shoulders كُلُّهُنَّall of them قَدِalready اصْطَلَىhas felt the fire
سُفْعَ المَنَاكِبِ كُلُّهُنَّ قَدِ اصْطَلَى
Except motionless things with gaps between them,
Except for coasters among them, there is companionship
Dark at the shoulders, each of them having felt the fire.
Swaying shoulders, all have become compliant
ومُجَوَّفاتٌand hollow vessels قَدْalready عَلاrose above أَجْوَازَهَاtheir middles
ومُجَوَّفاتٌ قَدْ عَلا أَجْوَازَهَا
أَسْآرُremnants of جُرْدٍbare things مُتْرَصَاتٌpacked closely كَالنَّوَىlike date-stones
أَسْآرُ جُرْدٍ مُتْرَصَاتٌ كَالنَّوَى
And hollow vessels, above whose middles rise
And hollow women whose frames have thickened
Bare remnants, packed closely like date-stones.
Necks like plaited palm fronds, clustered like saplings
ومُجَوَّفٍand a hollow one بَلَقًاpiebald مَلَكْتُI took control of عِنَانَهُits rein
ومُجَوَّفٍ بَلَقًا مَلَكْتُ عِنَانَهُ
يَعْدُوit runs عَلَىon خَمْسٍfive قَوَائِمُهُits legs زَكَاeven in number
يَعْدُو عَلَى خَمْسٍ قَوَائِمُهُ زَكَا
And a hollow, piebald one whose rein I took:
And I possessed the lead of a hollow swift one
It runs on five; its legs are even in number.
Galloping on five legs, pure
Sol 6.1