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If the earth were not sifted again and again,

إذا ما الأرض لم تنخل مرارا

1. If the earth were not sifted again and again,
There would be neither water, nor air,

١. إِذا ما الأرض لم تنخل مراراً
فلا ماءً تصير ولا هواءَ

2. Nor new land, nor fire.
All your efforts would be in vain.

٢. ولا ناراَ ولا أرضاً جديدا
وصار جميع سعيكم هباءَ

3. Know that after winter your land,
When handled skillfully, turns to water,

٣. وأيقن أنَّ أرضك بعد شتّ
إذا صارت لدى التدبير ماءَ

4. That stays without shifting or sin,
Without a soul that mourns or sheds blood.

٤. يقيم ولا يزول بلا ذُنَيب
ولا نفس تجنّ ولا دماءَ

5. For our air and fire themselves
Have acquired freshness through our sifting.

٥. وإنّ هواءنا والنار نفس
بمنخلنا قد اكتسبت رواءَ

6. If you returned the chaff to them,
It would give them life again in the fire.

٦. فإن ردّدتَ بِلَّتَها عليها
افادتهنَّ في النار البقاءَ

7. It is the dragon, hungry, whose head
Has swallowed its tail and made it its food.

٧. هو التنين جاع فمصَّ رأسٌ
له ذنباً وصَيَّرَه غذاءُ