سَلِask الهَضبَthe mountain ماthat lies بَينَamong الهِضابِthe mountains الأَطاوِلِthe loftiest
سَلِ الهَضبَ ما بَينَ الهِضابِ الأَطاوِلِ
مَتىwhen ريعَwas frightened يَوماًon any day قَبلَهاbefore them بِالزَلازِلِby earthquakes
مَتى ريعَ يَوماً قَبلَها بِالزَلازِلِ
Ask the mountain that stands among the loftiest mountains:
Ask the lofty mounts between the high peaks,
When was it ever frightened by earthquakes before they were?
When did they ever quake before from earthquakes?
وَهَلand were ...? خُضِدَتwere broken تِلكَthose الرِماحُthe spears لِغامِزٍby one pressing them
وَهَل خُضِدَت تِلكَ الرِماحُ لِغامِزٍ
وَهَلand did ...? أَكثَبَتcame within reach تِلكَthose النُجومُthe stars لِنائِلِfor one reaching out
وَهَل أَكثَبَت تِلكَ النُجومُ لِنائِلِ
And were those spears ever broken by anyone pressing them?
Were those spears ever bent except by a bold warrior?
And did those stars ever come within anyone’s reach?
Did those stars ever fail to shine their light?
مَضىdeparted النُجَباءُthe nobles الأَطوَلونَthe loftiest وَخَلَّفواand left behind
مَضى النُجَباءُ الأَطوَلونَ وَخَلَّفوا
قِصارَshort الخُطاstrides عَنshort of كُلِّevery مَجدٍglory وَنائِلِand bounty
قِصارَ الخُطا عَن كُلِّ مَجدٍ وَنائِلِ
The loftiest nobles have departed and left behind
The noble and tall have passed away,
Those whose short strides fall short of all glory and bounty.
Leaving those with lesser glory of no high station.
Sol 6.1