اللَهُGod أَكبَرُis greatest وَالصَغيرُand the small man صَغيرُis small
اللَهُ أَكبَرُ وَالصَغيرُ صَغيرُ
وَتَناوُلُand the assailing of العِلجِthe foreign lout الكِرامَthe noble كَبيرُis grave
وَتَناوُلُ العِلجِ الكِرامَ كَبيرُ
God is greatest, and the small man is small.
And a foreign lout's assault upon the noble is grave.
ماwhat بالُails حَمّادِHammad بنِson of نِهياNihya يَشتَهيhe desires
ما بالُ حَمّادِ بنِ نِهيا يَشتَهي
مَوتيmy death كَأَنّيas though I were بِاِستِهِin his anus باسورُa hemorrhoid
مَوتي كَأَنّي بِاِستِهِ باسورُ
What ails Hammad ibn Nihya, that he desires
my death, as though I were a hemorrhoid in his anus?
وَلَقَدand indeed ضَرَبتُI pitched عَلَيهِover him بَيتَa tent of مَذَلَّةٍhumiliation
وَلَقَد ضَرَبتُ عَلَيهِ بَيتَ مَذَلَّةٍ
حَتّىuntil أَصاخَhe listened intently كَأَنَّهُas though he were مَمطورُrain-drenched
حَتّى أَصاخَ كَأَنَّهُ مَمطورُ
Indeed, I pitched a tent of humiliation over him,
until he listened intently, like one drenched by rain.
ماnot فَرخُthe chick of مُعلَجَةٍa foreign woman كَنَجلِlike the son of مُتَوَّجٍa crowned man
ما فَرخُ مُعلَجَةٍ كَنَجلِ مُتَوَّجٍ
هَيهاتَfar from it ذاthis one مَلِكٌis a king وَذاand that one ناطورُa vineyard guard
هَيهاتَ ذا مَلِكٌ وَذا ناطورُ
A foreign woman's chick is not like a crowned man's son.
Far from it: this one is a king, and that one a vineyard guard.
أُبكيI make weep العِدىthe foes وَأَجودُand give generously to أَهلَthe people of مَوَدَّتيmy affection
أُبكي العِدى وَأَجودُ أَهلَ مَوَدَّتي
وَالعِلجُand the foreign lout لاis neither قَمَرٌa moon وَلاnor ساهورُa lunar halo
وَالعِلجُ لا قَمَرٌ وَلا ساهورُ
I make my foes weep and lavish gifts upon those I love.
And the foreign lout is neither moon nor lunar halo.
نُبِّئتُI was told آكِلَthe eater of خُرئهِhis own shit يَغتابُنيspeaks ill of me
نُبِّئتُ آكِلَ خُرئهِ يَغتابُني
عَندَin the presence of الأَميرِthe emir وَهَلand is there عَلَيَّover me أَميرُan emir
عَندَ الأَميرِ وَهَل عَلَيَّ أَميرُ
I was told that the eater of his own shit speaks ill of me
before the emir—but is there any emir over me?
طالَتhave grown long يَدايَmy two hands وَذَبَّand warded off عَنّيfrom me مِقوَلٌan eloquent tongue
طالَت يَدايَ وَذَبَّ عَنّي مِقوَلٌ
مِثلُlike الحُسامِthe cutting sword وَهَزَّنيand stirred me التَوقيرُhonor
مِثلُ الحُسامِ وَهَزَّني التَوقيرُ
My hands reach far, and an eloquent tongue defends me,
like a cutting sword; honor has stirred me.
ناريmy fire مُحَرِّقَةٌis scorching وَسَيبيand my largesse واسِعٌis abundant
ناري مُحَرِّقَةٌ وَسَيبي واسِعٌ
لِلمُعتَفينَfor those seeking bounty وَمَجلسيand my gathering مَغمورُis thronged
لِلمُعتَفينَ وَمَجلسي مَغمورُ
My fire is scorching, and my largesse abundant
for those seeking bounty; my gathering is thronged.
وَلِيَand mine is المَهابَةُawe فيamong الأَحِبَّةِthe loved ones وَالعِدىand the foes
وَلِيَ المَهابَةُ في الأَحِبَّةِ وَالعِدى
وَكَأَنَّنيand as though I were أَسَدٌa lion لَهُwith its own تامورُlair
وَكَأَنَّني أَسَدٌ لَهُ تامورُ
And I inspire awe among loved ones and foes,
as though I were a lion with its own lair.
عَزَبَتhas strayed خَليلَتُهُhis mate وَأَخطَأَand he missed صَيدَهُhis prey
عَزَبَت خَليلَتُهُ وَأَخطَأَ صَيدَهُ
فَلَهُso he has عَلىin لَقَمِthe middle of الطَريقِthe road زَئيرُa roar
فَلَهُ عَلى لَقَمِ الطَريقِ زَئيرُ
His mate has strayed, and he has missed his prey,
so he roars in the middle of the road.
وَإِذاand when السَفيهُthe fool عَوىhowls إِليَّat me وَسَمتُهُI brand him
وَإِذا السَفيهُ عَوى إِليَّ وَسَمتُهُ
لِلنَاظِرينَfor onlookers وَميسَميand my branding iron مَشهورُis renowned
لِلنَاظِرينَ وَميسَمي مَشهورُ
And when the fool howls at me, I brand him
for all to see; my branding iron is renowned.
وَحَلَفتُand I swore أَصفَحُto pardon عَنwith regard to غُواةِthe wayward of عَشيرَتيmy clan
وَحَلَفتُ أَصفَحُ عَن غُواةِ عَشيرَتي
كَرَماًout of generosity وَعِنديand I have بَعدَهُمbeyond them تَنكيرُchastisement
كَرَماً وَعِندي بَعدَهُم تَنكيرُ
I have sworn to pardon the wayward of my clan
out of generosity; beyond them, I have chastisement in store.
وَتَفيضُand overflows لِلبُزلِagainst the full-grown النَوائِبِcalamities راحَتيmy palm
وَتَفيضُ لِلبُزلِ النَوائِبِ راحَتي
فَيضَlike the overflow of الفُراتِthe Euphrates بِهِin it صَفاًclear water وَكُدورُand turbidity
فَيضَ الفُراتِ بِهِ صَفاً وَكُدورُ
My palm overflows against mighty calamities,
like the Euphrates' flood, with clear water and turbidity.
وَيَسُرُّنيand it delights me سَبقُthe hastening of الجَوادِthe generous man إِلىtoward النَدىgenerosity
وَيَسُرُّني سَبقُ الجَوادِ إِلى النَدى
قَبلَbefore السُؤالِbeing asked فَإِنَّfor indeed ذاكَthat سُرورُis joy
قَبلَ السُؤالِ فَإِنَّ ذاكَ سُرورُ
It delights me when the generous man hastens to give
before being asked, for that is joy.
وَأُهينُand I hold cheap ماwhat ليis mine لِلمَحامِدِfor praiseworthy deeds إِنَّهاindeed they are
وَأُهينُ ما لي لِلمَحامِدِ إِنَّها
حُلَلُthe robes of المُلوكِkings عَلىupon المُلوكِkings تُنيرshine
حُلَلُ المُلوكِ عَلى المُلوكِ تُنير
I hold what is mine cheap for praiseworthy deeds, for they
are the robes of kings, shining upon kings.
وَأُهيلُand I pour out لِلوُدِّfor affection الكَريمَnoble عَلىin النَدىgenerosity
وَأُهيلُ لِلوُدِّ الكَريمَ عَلى النَدى
قَعبَa bowl of المَسامِحِgenerous bounty ماnot لَهُfor it تَقديرُany measure
قَعبَ المَسامِحِ ما لَهُ تَقديرُ
And for noble affection I pour out in generosity
a bowl of bounty beyond all measure.
وَإِذاand when أَقَلَّgives little لِيَto me البَخيلُthe miser عَذَرتُهُI excuse him
وَإِذا أَقَلَّ لِيَ البَخيلُ عَذَرتُهُ
إِنَّindeed القَليلَa little مِنَfrom البَخيلِthe miser كَثيرُis much
إِنَّ القَليلَ مِنَ البَخيلِ كَثيرُ
When the miser gives me little, I excuse him:
a little from the miser is much.
فَالآنَso now أُقصِرُI desist عَنfrom شَتيمَةِreviling باطِلٍa worthless man
فَالآنَ أُقصِرُ عَن شَتيمَةِ باطِلٍ
وَأَشارَand signaled بِالوَجَلىwith a dire warning إِلَيَّto me مُشيرُa counselor
وَأَشارَ بِالوَجَلى إِلَيَّ مُشيرُ
So now I desist from reviling a worthless man,
and a counselor has signaled a dire warning to me.
وَرَغِبتُand I turned away عَنfrom أُنسِthe company of الأَوانِسِmaidens تَجتَنيgathering
وَرَغِبتُ عَن أُنسِ الأَوانِسِ تَجتَني
طُرَفَthe delights of الهَوىlove وَبِعَينِهِنَّand in their eyes قَميرُa little moon
طُرَفَ الهَوى وَبِعَينِهِنَّ قَميرُ
I have turned away from the company of maidens gathering
the delights of love, with a little moon in their eyes.
وَطَوىand folded away الشَبابَyouth وُرودُthe arrival كُلِّevery عَشِيَّةٍevening
وَطَوى الشَبابَ وُرودُ كُلِّ عَشِيَّةٍ
نُكبُthe buffets of الخُطوبِcalamities بُطونُهُنَّtheir bellies ظُهورُare backs
نُكبُ الخُطوبِ بُطونُهُنَّ ظُهورُ
Youth was folded away by the arrival, every evening, of
the buffets of calamity, whose bellies are backs,
وَتَمَصُّصيand my sucking ثَمَرَthe fruit of الصَبابَةِpassionate longing وَالصِبىand youth
وَتَمَصُّصي ثَمَرَ الصَبابَةِ وَالصِبى
حَتّىuntil فَنيتَyou wasted away وَلِلفَناءِand toward extinction مَصيرُis the final return
حَتّى فَنيتَ وَلِلفَناءِ مَصيرُ
and by my sucking the fruit of passion and youth,
until you wasted away; the end lies in extinction.
وَكَفاكَand sufficient for you بيam I حَجراًas a restraint لِشاعِرِupon the poet of مَعشَرٍa people
وَكَفاكَ بي حَجراً لِشاعِرِ مَعشَرٍ
وَرَدَتarrived قَصائِدُهُhis poems وَهُنَّwhile they were ذُعورُfrightened
وَرَدَت قَصائِدُهُ وَهُنَّ ذُعورُ
And I suffice you as a check upon a people's poet,
whose poems arrived, themselves afraid.
جَسَرَتthey dared مُشاغَبَتيto wrangle with me وَفِيَّand in me بَقِيَّةٌa remnant
جَسَرَت مُشاغَبَتي وَفِيَّ بَقِيَّةٌ
تُخشىis feared كَماjust as يُتَخَوَّفُis dreaded المَأثورُthe patterned sword
تُخشى كَما يُتَخَوَّفُ المَأثورُ
They dared to wrangle with me, though a remnant remains in me,
feared as a patterned sword is feared.
وَأَناand I am المُطِلُّthe one looming عَلىover اِبنِthe son of نِهياNihya غادِياًsetting out at dawn
وَأَنا المُطِلُّ عَلى اِبنِ نِهيا غادِياً
بِالجِدِّwith earnestness يُقصِدُit strikes home تارَةًat times وَيَجورُand swerves
بِالجِدِّ يُقصِدُ تارَةً وَيَجورُ
And I loom over Ibn Nihya, setting out at dawn
with earnestness that sometimes strikes home and sometimes swerves.
ضَعضَعتُI shook حَبَّةَthe core of جِلدِهِhis hide بِقَصيدَةٍwith a poem
ضَعضَعتُ حَبَّةَ جِلدِهِ بِقَصيدَةٍ
وَرَدَتit arrived قُرَيشٌQuraysh دُونَهاbefore it يَعبورُa gazelle
وَرَدَت قُرَيشٌ دُونَها يَعبورُ
I shook the very core of his hide with a poem:
it arrived, and before it Quraysh was a gazelle.
وَلَقَدand indeed أَفَأتُI turned عَلىupon سُهَيلٍSuhayl مِثلَهاone like it
وَلَقَد أَفَأتُ عَلى سُهَيلٍ مِثلَها
حَمراءَred-hot لَيسَthere is no لِحَرِّهاfor its heat تَقتيرُstint
حَمراءَ لَيسَ لِحَرِّها تَقتيرُ
Indeed, I turned another like it upon Suhayl,
a red-hot one, with no stint to its heat.
وَلَدىand for العَتيرَةِal-'Atira قَدindeed نَظَمتُI strung قَلائِداًnecklaces
وَلَدى العَتيرَةِ قَد نَظَمتُ قَلائِداً
مِنهاfrom them عَلَيهِupon him غَضاضَةٌdisgrace وَقَتيرُand gray hairs
مِنها عَلَيهِ غَضاضَةٌ وَقَتيرُ
And for al-'Atira I have strung necklaces
that bring him disgrace and gray hairs.
وَتَرَكتُand I left بِالغُرِّwith brilliant verses الغَرائِبِuncommon حَنبلاًHanbal
وَتَرَكتُ بِالغُرِّ الغَرائِبِ حَنبلاً
قَلِقَrestless in العَجانِthe perineum كَأَنَّهُas though he were مَأسورُa captive
قَلِقَ العَجانِ كَأَنَّهُ مَأسورُ
With brilliant, uncommon verses I left Hanbal
his perineum twitching, as though held captive.
وَإِذاand when اِطَّلَعتُI appear عَلىbefore اِبنِthe son of نِهياNihya أُرعِدَتare made to tremble
وَإِذا اِطَّلَعتُ عَلى اِبنِ نِهيا أُرعِدَت
مِنّيbecause of me فَرائِصُهُhis flanks وَجُنَّand he goes mad يَسيرُas he walks
مِنّي فَرائِصُهُ وَجُنَّ يَسيرُ
And when I appear before Ibn Nihya, a tremor shakes
his flanks because of me; he walks as one gone mad.
وَغَداand he becomes كَأَنَّas though بِرَأسِهِin his head دُوّامَةًa spinning top
وَغَدا كَأَنَّ بِرَأسِهِ دُوّامَةً
دارَتhas spun بِهامَتِهِabout his crown فَظَلَّso he keeps يَدورُspinning
دارَت بِهامَتِهِ فَظَلَّ يَدورُ
He becomes as though a spinning top in his head
had spun about his crown, leaving him spinning.
وَلِرَهطِand for the clan of يَحيىYahya فيin القَريضverse خَبيئَةٌa hidden thing
وَلِرَهطِ يَحيى في القَريض خَبيئَةٌ
تَنويit intends زيارَتَهُمto visit them وَسَوفَand will تَزورُvisit
تَنوي زيارَتَهُم وَسَوفَ تَزورُ
And for Yahya's clan a hidden thing lies in my verse,
intending to visit them—and visit it shall.
الخاطِبينَthose declaiming عَلىagainst أَخيكَyour brother كَأَنَّهُمas though they were
الخاطِبينَ عَلى أَخيكَ كَأَنَّهُم
مِنof هاشِمٍHashim وَكَأنَّنيand as though I were مَقبورُburied
مِن هاشِمٍ وَكَأنَّني مَقبورُ
Those declaiming against your brother act as though they
were of Hashim, and I were buried.
قَومٌa people إِذاwhen ذَكَرواthey mention ظِئارَةَthe fosterage of عَجرَدٍ'Ajrad
قَومٌ إِذا ذَكَروا ظِئارَةَ عَجرَدٍ
خامواthey shrink back وَكانَand was أَباthe father of اللَئيمَةِthe vile woman ظيرُa foster-father
خاموا وَكانَ أَبا اللَئيمَةِ ظيرُ
A people who, when they mention 'Ajrad's fosterage,
shrink back; a foster-father was the vile woman's father.
وَلَقَدand indeed هَتَفتُI cried aloud وَفيwhile in الأَناةِforbearance بَقِيَّةٌa remnant
وَلَقَد هَتَفتُ وَفي الأَناةِ بَقِيَّةٌ
إِنّيindeed I am لَكُمfor you مِنهُagainst him الغَداةَthis morning نَذيرُa warner
إِنّي لَكُم مِنهُ الغَداةَ نَذيرُ
Indeed, I cried aloud while some forbearance still remained:
'I am your warner against him this morning.'
فَتَتابَعواso they followed one another أَضَماًin anger وَكانَand was خَطيبَهُمtheir spokesman
فَتَتابَعوا أَضَماً وَكانَ خَطيبَهُم
حَسبُenough for اِبنِthe son of نِهياNihya ماwhat بِهِhe bears مَوقورُburdened
حَسبُ اِبنِ نِهيا ما بِهِ مَوقورُ
They followed one another in anger; their spokesman's cry was:
'Ibn Nihya has enough in the burden he bears.'
وَمِنَand among العَجائِبِthe wonders أَنَّis that أَفرُخَthe chicks of صالِحٍSalih
وَمِنَ العَجائِبِ أَنَّ أَفرُخَ صالِحٍ
يُسديlays a warp عَلَيَّagainst me كَبيرُهُمtheir eldest وَيُنيرُand weaves
يُسدي عَلَيَّ كَبيرُهُم وَيُنيرُ
And one wonder is that, of Salih's chicks,
their eldest warps and weaves against me.
لاdo not تَسقِنيgive me to drink كَأساًa cup بِطيبِof fragrant مُدامَةٍaged wine
لا تَسقِني كَأساً بِطيبِ مُدامَةٍ
إِنif لَمnot تَسِرtravel بِهِمُwith their names قَصائِدُpoems سيرُfar-ranging
إِن لَم تَسِر بِهِمُ قَصائِدُ سيرُ
Do not pour me a cup of fragrant aged wine
unless far-ranging poems travel abroad with their names.
قُلsay لِلَّذينَto those whose تَحَرَّقَتburned fiercely نيرانُهُمtheir fires
قُل لِلَّذينَ تَحَرَّقَت نيرانُهُم
حيناًfor a time وَسَعيُهُمُand their striving عَلَيَّagainst me فُجورُis wickedness
حيناً وَسَعيُهُمُ عَلَيَّ فُجورُ
Say to those whose fires burned fiercely
for a time, whose striving against me is wickedness:
أَعَلىis it upon الحَبائِسِthe tethered beasts تَحمِلونَyou load حِداجَكُمyour camel-saddles
أَعَلى الحَبائِسِ تَحمِلونَ حِداجَكُم
مَهلاًgently وَإِنand if تُرِكَis left الطَريقُthe road فَطيرواthen fly
مَهلاً وَإِن تُرِكَ الطَريقُ فَطيروا
'Is it on tethered beasts that you load your saddles?
Easy now! If the road is left to you, then fly!'
فَلَئِنfor if سَلِمتُI survive لَأَقدَحَنَّI shall surely kindle بِصالِحٍagainst Salih
فَلَئِن سَلِمتُ لَأَقدَحَنَّ بِصالِحٍ
ناراًa fire فَإِنَّfor indeed بُنَيَّهُhis little son مَقرورُis chilled
ناراً فَإِنَّ بُنَيَّهُ مَقرورُ
For if I survive, I shall surely kindle against Salih
a fire, for his little son is chilled.
لاdo not تَغبِطَنَّever envy فَتىًa young man بِحُسنِfor the excellence of أَناتِهِhis forbearance
لا تَغبِطَنَّ فَتىً بِحُسنِ أَناتِهِ
تَحتَbeneath المَخيلَةِthe proud bearing داؤُهُhis sickness مَهجورُis neglected
تَحتَ المَخيلَةِ داؤُهُ مَهجورُ
Do not envy a young man for his fine forbearance;
beneath his proud bearing, his sickness lies neglected.
وَمُتَوَّجٌand a crowned man عَصَفَتravaged بِهِhim أَيّامُهُhis days
وَمُتَوَّجٌ عَصَفَت بِهِ أَيّامُهُ
وَبَناتُand the daughters of أَيمٍa serpent كُلُّهُنَّall of them عَقورُbiting
وَبَناتُ أَيمٍ كُلُّهُنَّ عَقورُ
And a crowned man was ravaged by his days,
and by a serpent's daughters, every one a biter.
وَالناسُand people شَتّىare diverse فيin الخَلائِقِdispositions مِنهُمُamong them
وَالناسُ شَتّى في الخَلائِقِ مِنهُمُ
سَكَنٌare the tranquil وَجُلُّand most of سوادِهِمtheir multitude مَذعورُis frightened
سَكَنٌ وَجُلُّ سوادِهِم مَذعورُ
People differ in their natures; among them are
the tranquil, though most of their multitude is afraid.
وَعَلىand upon المُرَجَّمِthe reviled man شاهِدٌa witness مِنfrom غَيبِهِhis hidden self
وَعَلى المُرَجَّمِ شاهِدٌ مِن غَيبِهِ
وَبِحَدِّهِand on his blade's edge يَتَقَلَّبُtwists and turns العُصفورُthe sparrow
وَبِحَدِّهِ يَتَقَلَّبُ العُصفورُ
And the reviled man bears a witness from his hidden self,
and on his blade's edge the sparrow twists and turns.
فَضَحَexposed الغَنِيَّthe rich man لِسانُهُhis tongue مُتَعَكَّماًmuffled
فَضَحَ الغَنِيَّ لِسانُهُ مُتَعَكَّماً
فَاِكعَمso muzzle غَنِيَّكَyour rich man صاغِراًhumbled سيبورُSibur
فَاِكعَم غَنِيَّكَ صاغِراً سيبورُ
The rich man's tongue exposed him, muffled as he was;
so muzzle your rich man in humiliation, Sibur.
وَعَلىand upon الظَليمَةِthe wronged woman مُخبِرٌa witness مِنfrom عَينِهاher eye
وَعَلى الظَليمَةِ مُخبِرٌ مِن عَينِها
وَبِرِيحِهِand by its scent يُتَنَسَّمُis smelled out الكَافورُcamphor
وَبِرِيحِهِ يُتَنَسَّمُ الكَافورُ
And the wronged woman bears a witness in her eye,
and camphor is discerned by its scent.
لاdo not تُعطِentrust حُرمَتَكَyour honor الدَنِيَّto the base man فَإِنَّهُfor he
لا تُعطِ حُرمَتَكَ الدَنِيَّ فَإِنَّهُ
مَلِقُis flattering of اللِسانِtongue جَنابُهُhis precinct مَحذورُis to be shunned
مَلِقُ اللِسانِ جَنابُهُ مَحذورُ
Do not entrust your honor to a base man, for he
is flattering of tongue, but his precinct is to be shunned.
وَإِذاand when تَعَرَّضَتِpresent themselves الهُمومُcares فَغِرthen raid بِهاagainst them
وَإِذا تَعَرَّضَتِ الهُمومُ فَغِر بِها
حَتّىuntil تَوَحَّجَهاyou drive them to cover وَأَنتَwhile you are مُغيرُa raider
حَتّى تَوَحَّجَها وَأَنتَ مُغيرُ
And when cares confront you, raid them,
until you drive them to cover, yourself the raider.
وَدَعِand leave النِساءَwomen لِزيرِهِنَّto their ladies' man فَإِنَّماfor he alone
وَدَعِ النِساءَ لِزيرِهِنَّ فَإِنَّما
يَحظىwins favor وَقَدwhile already وَغِرَتhave seethed عَلَيكَagainst you صُدورُhearts
يَحظى وَقَد وَغِرَت عَلَيكَ صُدورُ
Leave women to their ladies' man; he alone
wins favor, while hearts seethe against you.
وَاِصبِرand endure عَلىunder مَضَضِthe sting of المَلامَةِblame مِنfrom أَخٍa brother
وَاِصبِر عَلى مَضَضِ المَلامَةِ مِن أَخٍ
ذَهَبَcarried away الضَلالُerror بِهِhim وَأَنتَwhile you are أَخيرُbetter
ذَهَبَ الضَلالُ بِهِ وَأَنتَ أَخيرُ
Endure the sting of blame from a brother
whom error has carried away, while you are better.
أَمّاas for اللِئامُthe base فَلاthen not يَضيرُكَharms you لُؤمُهُمtheir baseness
أَمّا اللِئامُ فَلا يَضيرُكَ لُؤمُهُم
لَكِنَّbut لُؤمَthe baseness of الأَكرَمينَthe noblest يَضيرُdoes harm
لَكِنَّ لُؤمَ الأَكرَمينَ يَضيرُ
As for the base, their baseness does not harm you,
but the baseness of the noblest does harm.
وَعَروسُand the bride of يَثرِبَYathrib فيin المَجاسِدِsaffron-dyed robes وَالحِباand wraps
وَعَروسُ يَثرِبَ في المَجاسِدِ وَالحِبا
أَيّامَin the days when فَضلُthe excellence of جَمالِهاher beauty مَذكورُwas renowned
أَيّامَ فَضلُ جَمالِها مَذكورُ
And Yathrib's bride, in saffron-dyed robes and wraps,
in the days when her surpassing beauty was renowned—
لَقَطَpicked out الحَواسِدُthe envious women عَيبَهاher flaw فَنَشَرنَهُthen they spread it
لَقَطَ الحَواسِدُ عَيبَها فَنَشَرنَهُ
وَالغِلُّand rancor أَبصَرُis keener-sighted وَالحواسِدُwhile the envious women عورُare one-eyed
وَالغِلُّ أَبصَرُ وَالحواسِدُ عورُ
envious women picked out her flaw and spread it abroad;
rancor sees more keenly, though envious women are one-eyed.
فَاِنهَضso rise بِجَدٍّwith resolve أَوor أَقِمremain مُتَنَظِّراًawaiting
فَاِنهَض بِجَدٍّ أَو أَقِم مُتَنَظِّراً
سَيبَthe bounty of الإِلهِGod فَإِنَّهُfor it is مَقدورُdecreed
سَيبَ الإِلهِ فَإِنَّهُ مَقدورُ
So rise with resolve, or remain awaiting
God's bounty, for it is decreed.
Sol 6.1