إِذاif كُنتَyou are فيin جِلَّقٍJillaq (Damascus) راجِلاًon foot
إِذا كُنتَ في جِلَّقٍ راجِلاً
وَحَلَّand has settled in الشِتاءُwinter حُلولَthe settling المُقيمِof one who stays
وَحَلَّ الشِتاءُ حُلولَ المُقيمِ
If you are on foot in Jillaq,
And winter has settled in like one who means to stay,
فَلاthen do not تَطلُبِseek الرِزقَlivelihood حَتّىuntil تَرىyou see
فَلا تَطلُبِ الرِزقَ حَتّى تَرى
مِنَof الصَيفِsummer يَوماًa day نَقِيَّunblemished الأَديمِin complexion
مِنَ الصَيفِ يَوماً نَقِيَّ الأَديمِ
Then do not seek your livelihood until you see
A summer day with an unblemished face.
فَكَمfor many a زِلقَةٍslip فيalong حَواشيthe edges of الطَريقthe road
فَكَم زِلقَةٍ في حَواشي الطَريق
تَرُدُّsends back الثِيابَthe clothes بِخِزيٍin disgrace عَظيمِgreat
تَرُدُّ الثِيابَ بِخِزيٍ عَظيمِ
For many a slip along the edges of the road
Leaves your clothes in utter disgrace;
وَوَغدٍand many a scoundrel غَداset out راكِباًriding سابِقاًracing ahead
وَوَغدٍ غَدا راكِباً سابِقاً
لَئيماًbase أَضَرَّharmed بِماشٍto a walker كَريمِnoble
لَئيماً أَضَرَّ بِماشٍ كَريمِ
And many a scoundrel rode out, racing ahead,
A base fellow who harmed a noble walker.
Sol 6.1