بِالجَدِّ لا بِالمَساعي يُبلَغُ الشَرَفُ

بِالجَدِّ لا بِالمَساعي يُبلَغُ الشَرَفُ

تَمشي الجُدودُ بِأَقوامٍ وَإِن وَقَفوا

تَمشي الجُدودُ بِأَقوامٍ وَإِن وَقَفوا

By fortune, not by endeavors, is honor attained.

With resolve, not with efforts, honor is attained

Fortunes carry people forward even when they stand still.

The resolute walk with people even when they stop

أَعيا مِنَ الدَهرِ خُلقٌ لا دَوامَ لَهُ

أَعيا مِنَ الدَهرِ خُلقٌ لا دَوامَ لَهُ

البَذلُ وَالمَنعُ وَالإِنجازُ وَالخُلُفُ

البَذلُ وَالمَنعُ وَالإِنجازُ وَالخُلُفُ

Time's disposition, which has no constancy, is baffling:

Time has brought about a temperament that does not last

giving and withholding, fulfillment and broken promises.

Generosity and stinginess, fulfilling and failing

واطٍ بِجَفوَتِهِ أَعقابَ خُلَّتِهِ

واطٍ بِجَفوَتِهِ أَعقابَ خُلَّتِهِ

يَوماً وَدودٌ وَيَوماً مَلَّةٌ طَرِفُ

يَوماً وَدودٌ وَيَوماً مَلَّةٌ طَرِفُ

With its estrangement it treads on the heels of its friendship,

With his aloofness, the lover hurts those longing for him

one day affectionate, another easily bored and fickle.

One day intimate, another day distant and flirting

راحَت تَعَجَّبُ مِن شَيبٍ أَلَمَّ بِهِ

راحَت تَعَجَّبُ مِن شَيبٍ أَلَمَّ بِهِ

وَعاذِرٌ شَيبَهُ التَهمامُ وَالأَسَفُ

وَعاذِرٌ شَيبَهُ التَهمامُ وَالأَسَفُ

She began marveling at the gray hair that had come upon him,

My soul was amazed at the greying that afflicted it

yet anxiety and sorrow excuse his gray hair.

While my censurer blamed my greying and sorrow

وَلا تَزالُ هُمومُ النَفسِ طارِقَةً

وَلا تَزالُ هُمومُ النَفسِ طارِقَةً

رُسلُ البَياضِ إِلى الفَودينِ تَختَلِفُ

رُسلُ البَياضِ إِلى الفَودينِ تَختَلِفُ

The soul's cares never cease their night-visits;

The worries of the soul still knock

messengers of whiteness visit his two temples in turn.

The messengers of whiteness interchange to the temples

إِنَّ الثَلاثينَ وَالسَبعَ اِلتَوَينَ بِهِ

إِنَّ الثَلاثينَ وَالسَبعَ اِلتَوَينَ بِهِ

عَنِ الصِبا فَهوَ مُزوَرٌّ وَمُنعَطِفُ

عَنِ الصِبا فَهوَ مُزوَرٌّ وَمُنعَطِفُ

Indeed, thirty years and seven have turned him

When thirty and forty come to him

away from youth; so he is averted and bent aside.

He fakes about his youth and turns

فَما لَهُ صَبوَةٌ يُبكى بِها طَلَلٌ

فَما لَهُ صَبوَةٌ يُبكى بِها طَلَلٌ

وَلا لَهُ طَربَةٌ يُعلى بِها شَرَفُ

وَلا لَهُ طَربَةٌ يُعلى بِها شَرَفُ

He has no longing that makes him weep over a ruined dwelling,

He has no youthfulness that a ruin is mourned for

nor any rapture by which a height is scaled.

Nor any passion that an honor is elevated with

أَينَ الَّذينَ رَمَوا قَلبي بِسَهمِهِمُ

أَينَ الَّذينَ رَمَوا قَلبي بِسَهمِهِمُ

وَلَم يُداوُوا لِيَ القِرفَ الَّذي قَرَفوا

وَلَم يُداوُوا لِيَ القِرفَ الَّذي قَرَفوا

Where are those who shot my heart with their arrow

Where are those who shot my heart with their arrows

and never healed for me the hurt they inflicted?

And did not cure me of the disgust they caused

يَشكو فِراقَهُمُ القَلبُ الَّذي جَرَحوا

يَشكو فِراقَهُمُ القَلبُ الَّذي جَرَحوا

مِنّي وَتَبكيهِمُ العَينُ الَّتي طَرَفوا

مِنّي وَتَبكيهِمُ العَينُ الَّتي طَرَفوا

The heart they wounded laments their parting,

The heart complains of their loss, which they wounded

within me; and the eye they struck weeps for them.

And the eye weeps for them, which they made shed tears

كَم جاءَني الخَوفُ مِمّا كُنتُ آمَنَهُ

كَم جاءَني الخَوفُ مِمّا كُنتُ آمَنَهُ

وَكَم أَمِنتُ الَّتي قَلبي بِها يَجِفُ

وَكَم أَمِنتُ الَّتي قَلبي بِها يَجِفُ

How often fear came to me from what I had felt safe from,

How often fear came to me from what I felt secure of

and how often I was safe from what made my heart tremble.

And how often I felt secure from what makes my heart dry

قَد يَأمَنُ المَرءُ سَهماً فيهِ مَوقِعُهُ

قَد يَأمَنُ المَرءُ سَهماً فيهِ مَوقِعُهُ

وَقَد يَخافُ الَّذي يَنأى وَيَنحَرِفُ

وَقَد يَخافُ الَّذي يَنأى وَيَنحَرِفُ

A man may feel safe from an arrow whose lodging-place is in him,

One may feel safe from an arrow that will hit him

and fear the one that goes far off and veers aside.

And one may fear what turns away and veers

لَمّا رَأَيتُ مَرامي الظَنَّ خاطِئَةً

لَمّا رَأَيتُ مَرامي الظَنَّ خاطِئَةً

وَدونَ ما أَرتَجي مِنكُم نَوىً قُذُفُ

وَدونَ ما أَرتَجي مِنكُم نَوىً قُذُفُ

When I saw conjecture's shots missing their mark,

When I saw your assumptions miss their mark

and far-flung distances between me and what I hoped from you,

And your intentions toward me were lower than what I hoped

صَرَفتُ نَفسِيَ عَنكُم وَهيَ غانِيَةٌ

صَرَفتُ نَفسِيَ عَنكُم وَهيَ غانِيَةٌ

وَالنَفسُ تُصرَفُ أَحياناً فَتَنصَرِفُ

وَالنَفسُ تُصرَفُ أَحياناً فَتَنصَرِفُ

I turned my soul away from you, self-sufficient;

I turned my soul away from you while it was singing

and sometimes the soul is turned, and so turns away.

And the soul turns away sometimes, so it turns

ما هَزَّ فَرعَكُمُ يَأسٌ وَلا طَمَعٌ

ما هَزَّ فَرعَكُمُ يَأسٌ وَلا طَمَعٌ

وَلا مَرى دَرَّكُم لينٌ وَلا عَنَفُ

وَلا مَرى دَرَّكُم لينٌ وَلا عَنَفُ

Neither despair nor hope shook your bough,

Neither despair nor hope shook your branch

nor did gentleness or force draw forth your milk.

Nor did seeing your abundance show softness or violence

وَلا لَكُم في ثَنايا الجودِ مُطَّلَعٌ

وَلا لَكُم في ثَنايا الجودِ مُطَّلَعٌ

وَلا لَكُم في ظُهورِ المَجدِ مُرتَدَفُ

وَلا لَكُم في ظُهورِ المَجدِ مُرتَدَفُ

Nor have you a way up the passes of generosity,

You have no outlook in the folds of generosity

nor a riding-place upon the backs of glory.

Nor any succession in the backs of glory

يَأبى لِيَ العِزُّ وَالغَرّاءُ مِن شِيَمي

يَأبى لِيَ العِزُّ وَالغَرّاءُ مِن شِيَمي

إِمساكَ حَبلِ غُرورٍ ما لَهُ طَرَفُ

إِمساكَ حَبلِ غُرورٍ ما لَهُ طَرَفُ

My dignity and the shining traits of my character forbid me

My honor and pride refuse for me

to grasp a rope of deception that has no end.

To hold on to a rope of delusion that has no end

هَبها ضَبابَةَ لَيلٍ أَنتَ خابِطُها

هَبها ضَبابَةَ لَيلٍ أَنتَ خابِطُها

إِنَّ الظَلامَ وَإِن عَنّاكَ مُنكَشِفُ

إِنَّ الظَلامَ وَإِن عَنّاكَ مُنكَشِفُ

Suppose it is a mist of night through which you grope:

Dispel the darkness of a night you grope

darkness, though it wearies you, will clear.

Though the darkness hides you, dawn will uncover

تَنَظَّرِ الصُبحَ إِنَّ الصُبحَ مُنتَظَرٌ

تَنَظَّرِ الصُبحَ إِنَّ الصُبحَ مُنتَظَرٌ

وَالفَجرُ يُعرِبُ عَمّا أَعجَمَ السَدَفُ

وَالفَجرُ يُعرِبُ عَمّا أَعجَمَ السَدَفُ

Await the morning: morning is to be awaited;

Look forward to the dawn, for the dawn is anticipated

and dawn makes clear what darkness made obscure.

And sunrise elucidates what nightfall rendered ambiguous

كَأَنَّني يَومَ أَستَعطي نَوالَكُمُ

كَأَنَّني يَومَ أَستَعطي نَوالَكُمُ

دانٍ مِنَ الصَخرَةِ الصَمّاءِ يَغتَرِفُ

دانٍ مِنَ الصَخرَةِ الصَمّاءِ يَغتَرِفُ

On the day I ask for your bounty, I am like

As if when I seek your bestowal

one nearing a solid rock to scoop out water.

I am one begging from the deaf rock that scoops up water

وَيَومَ أَدعوكُمُ لِلخَطبِ أَحذَرُهُ

وَيَومَ أَدعوكُمُ لِلخَطبِ أَحذَرُهُ

داعٍ يُبَلِّغُ مَن قَد ضَمَّهُ الجَدَفُ

داعٍ يُبَلِّغُ مَن قَد ضَمَّهُ الجَدَفُ

And on the day I call on you against a crisis I dread,

And when I call you for marriage, I fear it

a caller conveying words to one whom the grave has enclosed.

Like one calling out to someone the sea has embraced

ما كُنتُمُ مِن سُيوفي إِذ هَزَزتُكُمُ

ما كُنتُمُ مِن سُيوفي إِذ هَزَزتُكُمُ

هَزَّ النَوابي إِذا أَمضَيتَها تَقِفُ

هَزَّ النَوابي إِذا أَمضَيتَها تَقِفُ

You were no swords of mine when I brandished you,

You were not like my swords when I brandished you

like blades that fail to cut and halt when driven forward.

Brandishing the swords when I unsheathe and wield them

يا راعِيَ الذَودِ لا أَصبَحتَ في نَفَرٍ

يا راعِيَ الذَودِ لا أَصبَحتَ في نَفَرٍ

تَروى البِكارُ وَتَظما الجِلَّةُ الشُرُفُ

تَروى البِكارُ وَتَظما الجِلَّةُ الشُرُفُ

O keeper of the camel herd, may you wake with no companions!

O shepherd of the lambs, you did not become among a group

The young she-camels drink their fill, while the great old ones thirst.

The lambs are watered and the great gather honor

ما أَعجَبَ القِسمَةَ العَوجاءَ يَقسِمُها

ما أَعجَبَ القِسمَةَ العَوجاءَ يَقسِمُها

الدارُ واحِدَةٌ وَالوِردُ مُختَلِفُ

الدارُ واحِدَةٌ وَالوِردُ مُختَلِفُ

How strange the crooked share he allots!

How wondrous is the crooked distribution fate makes

The dwelling is one, yet the watering differs.

The abode is one, yet the meadows are different

لَئِن حُرِمتُ مِنَ العَلياءِ ما رُزِقوا

لَئِن حُرِمتُ مِنَ العَلياءِ ما رُزِقوا

لَقَد جَهِلتُ مِنَ الفَحشاءِ ما عَرَفوا

لَقَد جَهِلتُ مِنَ الفَحشاءِ ما عَرَفوا

Though I was denied the high rank they were granted,

If I am deprived of the sublime ones who were granted

I have indeed not known the indecency they knew.

I have certainly been ignorant of the vile ones who knew

لَأُرحِلَنَّ المَطايا ثُمَّ أُبرِكُها

لَأُرحِلَنَّ المَطايا ثُمَّ أُبرِكُها

حَيثُ اِطمَأَنَّ النَدى وَاِستَوطَنَ الشَرَفُ

حَيثُ اِطمَأَنَّ النَدى وَاِستَوطَنَ الشَرَفُ

I shall surely saddle the mounts, then make them kneel

I will set out the camels, then make them kneel down

where generosity has settled and honor made its home.

Where the dew has settled and honor has taken residence

كَأَنَّما في رِجالِ الرَكبِ خاطِرَةٌ

كَأَنَّما في رِجالِ الرَكبِ خاطِرَةٌ

تَعانَقَ الدَوُّ وَالنَأجِيَّةُ العُصُفُ

تَعانَقَ الدَوُّ وَالنَأجِيَّةُ العُصُفُ

As though, in a passing thought among the caravan's men,

As if among the men of the caravan is apprehension

the wasteland and the swift, panting camels embraced.

Shuddering with fear while the female camels bellow

بِدارِ أَغلَبَ ما في وَعدِهِ خُلُفٌ

بِدارِ أَغلَبَ ما في وَعدِهِ خُلُفٌ

لِلراغِبينَ وَلا في حُكمِهِ جَنَفُ

لِلراغِبينَ وَلا في حُكمِهِ جَنَفُ

At the house of a mighty man: no breach in his promise

In an abode where most of what is promised is breach

to those who seek, nor any injustice in his judgment.

For the hopeful, and in its rule there is no injustice

حَيثُ الحُقوقُ قِيامٌ في مَقاطِعِها

حَيثُ الحُقوقُ قِيامٌ في مَقاطِعِها

وَكُلُّ مَن حاكَمَ الأَيّامَ مُنتَصِفُ

وَكُلُّ مَن حاكَمَ الأَيّامَ مُنتَصِفُ

Where rights stand firm at their points of settlement,

Where rights stand affirmed in their bounds

and everyone who takes the days to court receives justice.

And every one who judges time is impartial

راضَ الأُمورَ عَلى أولى شَبيبَتِهِ

راضَ الأُمورَ عَلى أولى شَبيبَتِهِ

فَالرَأيُ مُحتَنِكٌ وَالعُمرُ مُؤتَنِفُ

فَالرَأيُ مُحتَنِكٌ وَالعُمرُ مُؤتَنِفُ

He mastered affairs at the very beginning of his youth;

He who pleased with the matters in his early youth

so his judgment is seasoned, and his life just begun.

His opinion is well-informed and his life renewed

يُحيي المَكارِمَ أَبناءٌ لَهٌ وَرَدوا

يُحيي المَكارِمَ أَبناءٌ لَهٌ وَرَدوا

كَما بَنى المَجدَ أَباءٌ لَهُ سَلَفوا

كَما بَنى المَجدَ أَباءٌ لَهُ سَلَفوا

Sons born to him revive noble deeds,

The generous ones have come, children to him

as his forefathers who went before built glory.

As fathers to him preceded and went before

يا اِبنَ الأولى نَزَلوا العَلياءَ خالِيَةً

يا اِبنَ الأولى نَزَلوا العَلياءَ خالِيَةً

مَنازِلَ الدُرِّ يُرمى دونَهُ الصَدَفُ

مَنازِلَ الدُرِّ يُرمى دونَهُ الصَدَفُ

O son of those who settled the heights when unoccupied,

O son of the foremost ones, they descended to find the lofty empty

the abodes of pearls, before which shells are cast aside;

Pearls are discarded while seashells are thrown

المُقدِمينَ فَلا ميلٌ وَلا عُزُلٌ

المُقدِمينَ فَلا ميلٌ وَلا عُزُلٌ

وَالحامِلونَ فَلا جَورٌ وَلا ضَعَفُ

وَالحامِلونَ فَلا جَورٌ وَلا ضَعَفُ

those who advance, none wavering and none unarmed,

The predecessors, so no leaning nor isolation

and those who bear burdens, with no injustice or weakness.

And the carriers, so no injustice nor feebleness

لي فيهِمُ خَلَفٌ مِن كُلِّ مُفتَقَدٍ

لي فيهِمُ خَلَفٌ مِن كُلِّ مُفتَقَدٍ

وَرُبَّما جازَ قَدرَ الذاهِبِ الخَلَفُ

وَرُبَّما جازَ قَدرَ الذاهِبِ الخَلَفُ

In them I have a replacement for everyone I have lost,

For me among them all are successors to every absent one

and sometimes the successor exceeds the departed in worth.

And perhaps the successor surpassed the limits of the predecessor

في كُلِّ يَومٍ عَدُوٌّ أَنتَ قائِدُهُ

في كُلِّ يَومٍ عَدُوٌّ أَنتَ قائِدُهُ

قَودَ الجَنيبِ لِما عَسَّفتَ مُعتَسِفُ

قَودَ الجَنيبِ لِما عَسَّفتَ مُعتَسِفُ

Every day there is an enemy whom you lead,

Every day you are a leader against an enemy

like a led mount, taking the rough path you force him along.

Driving away the cowardly for your aggression

في السَلمِ دافِقَةٌ شُؤبوبُها خَضِلٌ

في السَلمِ دافِقَةٌ شُؤبوبُها خَضِلٌ

وَالرَوعِ بارِقَةٌ ذو رَعدِها قَصَفُ

وَالرَوعِ بارِقَةٌ ذو رَعدِها قَصَفُ

In peace, you are a pouring cloud with drenching showers,

In peace, pouring with harmless weakness

and in battle a flashing cloud whose thunder crashes.

And in war, flashing with thundering might

فَمِن شِعابِ نَدىً أَمواهُهُ دُفَعٌ

فَمِن شِعابِ نَدىً أَمواهُهُ دُفَعٌ

وَمِن طِعانِ قَناً آبارُهُ خُسُفُ

وَمِن طِعانِ قَناً آبارُهُ خُسُفُ

Thus, from generosity's ravines, whose waters surge in torrents,

From mountain paths, its waters covered with repelling

and from spear-thrusts, whose wells are deep pits.

And from spear stabs, its wells collapse

تَغدو كَأَنَّكَ وَالهاماتِ طائِرَةٌ

تَغدو كَأَنَّكَ وَالهاماتِ طائِرَةٌ

جانٍ مِنَ الحَنظَلِ العامِيِّ يَنتَقِفُ

جانٍ مِنَ الحَنظَلِ العامِيِّ يَنتَقِفُ

You go forth, while heads are flying, as though you were

You rise up as if you and intuitions are soaring

a gatherer cracking open year-old colocynth.

Near to understanding the commoners' gibberish

كَأَنَّ سَيفَكَ ضَيفُ الشَيبِ لَيسَ لَهُ

كَأَنَّ سَيفَكَ ضَيفُ الشَيبِ لَيسَ لَهُ

عَنِ الرُؤوسِ إِذا ما جاءَ مُنصَرَفُ

عَنِ الرُؤوسِ إِذا ما جاءَ مُنصَرَفُ

Your sword is like gray hair, the guest that has no

As if the sword of old age is not a guest that

way to leave the heads once it has come.

When it comes, refrains from heads

فَاِستَأنِفوا العِزَّ مُخضَرّاً زَمانُكُمُ

فَاِستَأنِفوا العِزَّ مُخضَرّاً زَمانُكُمُ

كَأَنَّما الدَهرُ فيكُم رَوضَةٌ أُنُفُ

كَأَنَّما الدَهرُ فيكُم رَوضَةٌ أُنُفُ

So renew your glory, with your age growing green,

So take up glory anew, while your time is green

as though time among you were a fresh, untouched meadow.

As if time in you is a garden luxuriant

وَاِبقَوا بَقاءَ الدَراري في مَطالِعِها

وَاِبقَوا بَقاءَ الدَراري في مَطالِعِها

إِلّا البُدورَ فَإِنَّ البَدرَ يَنكَسِفُ

إِلّا البُدورَ فَإِنَّ البَدرَ يَنكَسِفُ

And endure as the brilliant stars endure in their rising places,

And remain lasting as the full moons in their emergence

except the full moons, for the full moon suffers eclipse.

Except the full moons, for the full moon becomes eclipsed

تَسعى البِكارُ مُعَنّاةً وَقَد مَلَكَت

تَسعى البِكارُ مُعَنّاةً وَقَد مَلَكَت

أولى الجُمامِ عَلَيها الجِلَّةُ الشُرُفُ

أولى الجُمامِ عَلَيها الجِلَّةُ الشُرُفُ

The young she-camels toil, hard-driven, while

The young she-camel strives purposely and it has gained

the great old camels have claimed the first rest ahead of them.

The best of the flock's leadership and honor

إِذا رَأَينا قِوامَ الدينِ راكِبَها

إِذا رَأَينا قِوامَ الدينِ راكِبَها

فَلَيسَ في ظَهرِها لِلقَومِ مُرتَدَفُ

فَلَيسَ في ظَهرِها لِلقَومِ مُرتَدَفُ

When we see Qiwam al-Din riding them,

When we see the pillar of the faith riding it

there is no seat behind him on their backs for the company.

No riders behind it can match the people

فَقُل لِمُعتَسِفٍ يَرجو لَحاقَهُمُ

فَقُل لِمُعتَسِفٍ يَرجو لَحاقَهُمُ

لَبِّث فَقَد بَلَغوا العَليا وَما اِعتَسَفوا

لَبِّث فَقَد بَلَغوا العَليا وَما اِعتَسَفوا

So tell the man taking a trackless path, hoping to catch them:

So say to one who hopes to catch up with them

Wait—they have reached the heights without taking trackless paths.

Wait, for they have reached the heights and did not contend

لَوَ اِنَّ عَينَ أَبيكَ اليَومَ ناظِرَةٌ

لَوَ اِنَّ عَينَ أَبيكَ اليَومَ ناظِرَةٌ

تَعَجَّبَ الأَصلُ مِمّا أَثمَرَ الطَرَفُ

تَعَجَّبَ الأَصلُ مِمّا أَثمَرَ الطَرَفُ

If your father's eye were looking on today,

If your father could see today, his eye would be amazed

the root would marvel at what the branch has borne.

The roots from what the branches produced

وَنى عَنِ السَعيِ فَاِستَرعى مَساعِيَهُ

وَنى عَنِ السَعيِ فَاِستَرعى مَساعِيَهُ

مُدَرَّباً بِطَريقِ المَجدِ لا يَقِفُ

مُدَرَّباً بِطَريقِ المَجدِ لا يَقِفُ

He grew weary of striving, and entrusted his endeavors

He gave up efforts, so he trained his efforts

to one seasoned in glory's road, who never halts.

Proceeding on the path of glory, not stopping

قَد يَسبُقُ الخَيلَ تاليها وَإِن كَثُرَت

قَد يَسبُقُ الخَيلَ تاليها وَإِن كَثُرَت

مِنها الفَوارِطُ يَومَ الجَريِ وَالسَلَفُ

مِنها الفَوارِطُ يَومَ الجَريِ وَالسَلَفُ

A trailing horse may outstrip the field, though many

Horses may outstrip their pursuers, even if

among them are front-runners and forerunners on race-day.

Many bolt on the day of racing and vying