حَيّاhail to الصِباyouth عَلىupon رُبىthe hills of لُبنانِLebanon
حَيّا الصِبا عَلى رُبى لُبنانِ
حَيثُwhere الهَوىlove وَمَراتِعُand the pastures of الغُزلانِthe gazelles
حَيثُ الهَوى وَمَراتِعُ الغُزلانِ
Hail to youth upon Lebanon's hills,
The youth greeted the breeze in the meadows of Lebanon
Salutations to the zephyr upon the hills of Lebanon,
where love dwells and gazelles have their pastures.
Where passion dwells, and the haunts of gazelles,
Where passion dwells and gazelles roam free.
وَرَعىand may ... protect المُهَيمَنُthe Guardian ساكِنيهِits inhabitants فَإِنَّهُمfor they
وَرَعى المُهَيمَنُ ساكِنيهِ فَإِنَّهُم
فيin خَيرِthe finest أَرضٍland خَيرَةِthe choicest of السُكّانِinhabitants
في خَيرِ أَرضٍ خَيرَةِ السُكّانِ
And may the Guardian protect its inhabitants, for they
And the Guardian watched over its inhabitants, for they are
May the Guardian watch over those who dwell there,
are the finest inhabitants in the finest land.
In the best of lands, the best of people.
For they are the finest people in the finest land.
قَومٌa people صَفَتare pure أَخلاقُهُمtheir character وَوُجوهُهُمand their faces
قَومٌ صَفَت أَخلاقُهُم وَوُجوهُهُم
فَالحُسنُso beauty مَجموعٌis joined إِلىwith الإِحسانِgoodness
فَالحُسنُ مَجموعٌ إِلى الإِحسانِ
A people whose character and faces are pure,
A people whose manners and faces have been refined
A people of pure character and countenances,
so beauty is joined with goodness.
So that beauty and kindness are joined together.
Where beauty is united with benevolence.
لَهُمُtheirs are الأَياديhands البيضُwhite (generous) وَالبيضُand gleaming swords وَالشِيَمُand virtues
لَهُمُ الأَيادي البيضُ وَالبيضُ وَالشِيَمُ
لَوif مُثِّلَتgiven form كانَتthey would be عُقودَnecklaces of جُمانِpearls
لَو مُثِّلَت كانَت عُقودَ جُمانِ
Theirs are white hands of generosity, gleaming swords, and virtues
They have white hands and arms, that if depicted
Theirs are the white hands of bounty, bright honor, and noble traits,
that, if embodied, would be necklaces of pearls.
Would be like necklaces of pearls.
Which, if given form, would be necklaces of pearls.
شَيَمُthe virtues of الكِرامِthe noble قَصائِدٌpoems فيin الكَونِthe world غِرradiant (first fragment)
شَيَمُ الكِرامِ قَصائِدٌ في الكَونِ غِر
رٌcompletion of 'radiant' وَهيَand they فيin شِيَمِthe virtues of الكِرامِthe noble مَعانِmeanings
رٌ وَهيَ في شِيَمِ الكِرامِ مَعانِ
The virtues of the noble are radiant poems in the world,
The mark of generosity is scattered poems in the universe
The traits of the noble are radiant poems within the universe,
and poems are meanings within the virtues of the noble.
And these marks are the essence of generosity.
And within the character of the noble, they are profound meanings.
قَومٌa people إِذاwhenever زارَvisits الغَريبُthe stranger بِلادَهُمtheir land
قَومٌ إِذا زارَ الغَريبُ بِلادَهُم
جَعَلوهُthey make him مِنهُمone of them فيin أَجَلِّthe most honored مَكانِplace
جَعَلوهُ مِنهُم في أَجَلِّ مَكانِ
A people who, when a stranger visits their land,
A people, if a stranger visited their lands,
A people who, when a stranger visits their lands,
make him one of their own, in the place of highest honor.
They would make him one of them in the highest place.
Make him one of their own, in the most honored place.
إِنif خِفتَyou fear شَرَّthe evil of طَوارِقِthe sudden assaults of الحَدَثانِtime's misfortunes فَthen
إِن خِفتَ شَرَّ طَوارِقِ الحَدَثانِ فَ
اِقسِدهُمseek them تُخِفكَwill fear you (contextual reading) طَوارِقُthe sudden assaults of الحَدَثانِtime's misfortunes
اِقسِدهُم تُخِفكَ طَوارِقُ الحَدَثانِ
If you fear the evil of time's sudden assaults, then
If you fear the evils of fickle events, then
If you fear the evil of time's sudden calamities,
seek them, and time's sudden assaults will fear you.
Seek them out, they will protect you from fickle events.
Seek them out, and the calamities of time will pass you by.
لَوَif اِنَّthat فيon كيوانَSaturn (Kaywan) دارَthe abode of إِقامَتيmy residence
لَوَ اِنَّ في كيوانَ دارَ إِقامَتي
لَهَجَرتُI would forsake كيواناًSaturn (Kaywan) إِلىfor لُبنانِLebanon
لَهَجَرتُ كيواناً إِلى لُبنانِ
Were my dwelling place on Saturn,
If the eternal realm held my dwelling place,
Even if my dwelling place were upon Saturn,
I would forsake Saturn for Lebanon.
I would abandon it for Lebanon.
I would abandon Saturn for the sake of Lebanon.
قَيَّدتُI fettered قَلبيmy heart فيin هَواهُlove for it فَلَمso no longer أَعُدdo I continue
قَيَّدتُ قَلبي في هَواهُ فَلَم أَعُد
أَهوىI love السِوىanything else إِذfor لَيسَthere are not ليfor me قَلبانِtwo hearts
أَهوى السِوى إِذ لَيسَ لي قَلبانِ
I fettered my heart in love for it, and no longer
I bound my heart to its passion, so I no longer
I have bound my heart to its love, so I no longer
love anything else, for I do not have two hearts.
Desire anything else, for I do not have two hearts.
Love any other, for I possess not two hearts.
وَالحُبُّand love يَجمُلُis lovely فيin الشَبيبَةِyouth وَالصِبىand childhood
وَالحُبُّ يَجمُلُ في الشَبيبَةِ وَالصِبى
كَجَمالِlike the beauty of زَهرِblossoms of الرَوضِthe garden فيin نَيسانِApril
كَجَمالِ زَهرِ الرَوضِ في نَيسانِ
And love is lovely in youth and childhood,
And love is beautiful in youth and childhood
Love is beautiful in the bloom of youth and childhood,
like the beauty of garden blossoms in April.
Like the beauty of a meadow’s flower in April.
Like the beauty of garden blossoms in April.
هُوَit جَنَّةُthe paradise of الخُلدِeternity الَّتيwhich مَنّىgave hope بِهاof it
هُوَ جَنَّةُ الخُلدِ الَّتي مَنّى بِها
رُسُلُthe messengers of الهُدىguidance قِدَماًlong ago بَنيthe children of الإِنسانِhumankind
رُسُلُ الهُدى قِدَماً بَني الإِنسانِ
It is the paradise of eternity, promised
It is the eternal garden hoped for
It is the Paradise of Eternity promised by
by the messengers of guidance long ago to humankind.
By the messengers of guidance, the early humans.
The messengers of guidance to mankind of old.
خِلتِhave passed الدُهورُthe ages وَلاand does not يَزالُcease كَأَنَّماas though
خِلتِ الدُهورُ وَلا يَزالُ كَأَنَّما
بِأَمسِjust yesterday شادَتهُbuilt it يَدُthe hand of الرَحمَنِthe Merciful
بِأَمسِ شادَتهُ يَدُ الرَحمَنِ
Ages have passed, yet it still seems as though
Ages have passed, yet it remains as if
Ages have passed, yet it remains as though
the hand of the Merciful built it only yesterday.
It was built yesterday by the hand of the Merciful.
The hand of the Merciful built it but yesterday.
ياO ساكِنيهِits inhabitants تَحِيَّةًa greeting مِنfrom نازِحٍone far from home
يا ساكِنيهِ تَحِيَّةً مِن نازِحٍ
إِنَّindeed التَحِيَّةَthe greeting لَهيَit indeed is جَهدُthe utmost effort of العانيthe captive
إِنَّ التَحِيَّةَ لَهيَ جَهدُ العاني
O its inhabitants, a greeting from one far from home;
O inhabitants, greetings from an émigré,
O you who dwell there, greetings from an exile;
indeed, a greeting is all the captive can offer.
Though greetings are the utmost one in distress can manage.
For a greeting is the utmost a suffering soul can offer.
أَصبَحتُمُyou would have become فَوقَabove المَمالِكِthe kingdoms رُقعَةًa tract of land
أَصبَحتُمُ فَوقَ المَمالِكِ رُقعَةً
لَولاwere it not for وُجودُthe presence of مَعاشِرِflocks of الغُربانِcrows
لَولا وُجودُ مَعاشِرِ الغُربانِ
Your land would have stood above all kingdoms,
You have become, above the kingdoms, a patch
You have risen above all kingdoms in stature,
were it not for the presence of flocks of crows:
If not for the presence of the rabble of crows.
Were it not for the presence of flocks of crows.
قَومٌa people قَدِindeed اِتَّخَذواthey have made الدِيانَةَreligion بَينَكُمamong you
قَومٌ قَدِ اِتَّخَذوا الدِيانَةَ بَينَكُم
شَرَكاًa snare لِصَيدِfor catching الأَصفَرِthe yellow metal (gold) الرَنّانِringing
شَرَكاً لِصَيدِ الأَصفَرِ الرَنّانِ
a people who have made religion among you
A people who have made religion among you
A group who have turned religion among you
a snare for catching yellow, ringing gold.
A partner for trapping the chinking gold.
Into a snare to hunt for ringing gold.
فَتَظاهَرواso they pretended بِالزُهدِto asceticism حَتّىuntil أَشَكَتnearly
فَتَظاهَروا بِالزُهدِ حَتّى أَشَكَت
تَخفىbe hidden دَخائِلُهُمtheir secret motives عَلىfrom اليَقظانِthe vigilant
تَخفى دَخائِلُهُم عَلى اليَقظانِ
So they feigned asceticism until they nearly
So they pretended to be ascetic until
They feigned asceticism until their true nature
hid their secret motives from the vigilant.
Their guile was hidden from the vigilant.
Remained hidden even from the vigilant eye.
وَتَفَنَّنواand they became adept بِالمَكرِat deceit حَتّىuntil أَصبَحواthey became
وَتَفَنَّنوا بِالمَكرِ حَتّى أَصبَحوا
وَغَبِيُّهُمand their fool أَدهىcraftier مِنَthan الشَيطانِSatan
وَغَبِيُّهُم أَدهى مِنَ الشَيطانِ
And they practiced deceit so artfully
And they were crafty in scheming until they became
They mastered the arts of deception until
that even their fool became craftier than Satan.
More cunning than even the devil.
Their dullest wit became more cunning than Satan.
ضَرَبواthey imposed عَلىon الشَعبِthe people الرُسومَlevies شَراهَةًgreedily
ضَرَبوا عَلى الشَعبِ الرُسومَ شَراهَةً
حَسبُenough for التَعيسِthe wretched man ضَرائِبُthe taxes of السُلطانِthe ruler
حَسبُ التَعيسِ ضَرائِبُ السُلطانِ
Greedily they imposed levies on the people;
They imposed taxes out of greed on the people
They imposed tithes upon the people out of greed;
the ruler's taxes are enough for the wretched man.
As if the taxes of the sultan were not enough for the miserable.
As if the Sultan’s taxes were not enough for the wretched.
كَفَرواthey were ungrateful بِنِعمَتِهِfor his favor الَّتيwhich أَسداهُمُhe bestowed on them
كَفَروا بِنِعمَتِهِ الَّتي أَسداهُمُ
وَرَمَوهُand they accused him بِالإِلحادِof atheism وَالكُفرانِand unbelief
وَرَمَوهُ بِالإِلحادِ وَالكُفرانِ
They were ungrateful for the favor he had done them,
They disbelieved in His blessing which He gave them
They denied the blessings He bestowed upon them,
and accused him of atheism and unbelief.
And accused Him of heresy and ingratitude.
Repaying Him with acts of atheism and ingratitude.
وَلَقَدand indeed تَفانواthey devoted themselves wholly فيto اِنتِهاكِviolating حُقوقِهِhis rights
وَلَقَد تَفانوا في اِنتِهاكِ حُقوقِهِ
وَهوَwhile he المُحِبُّdesiring رِضاهُمُtheir approval المُتَفانيutterly devoted
وَهوَ المُحِبُّ رِضاهُمُ المُتَفاني
And indeed, they devoted themselves to violating his rights,
And they went to extremes in violating His rights
They devoted themselves to violating His rights,
while he, selflessly devoted, sought their approval.
While He is the Loving One, pleased with their loyalty.
While He is the Loving One, seeking their redemption.
حَتّىuntil حَسِبناwe thought أَنَّهُthat he يَنحَطُّwas declining عَنfrom
حَتّى حَسِبنا أَنَّهُ يَنحَطُّ عَن
كَسَلٍlaziness وَلَمand not يَكُhe was قَطُّever بِالكَسلانِat all lazy
كَسَلٍ وَلَم يَكُ قَطُّ بِالكَسلانِ
Until we thought he was declining through
Until we thought He would neglect
Until we imagined the people were declining from
laziness, though he had never been lazy.
Punishment, though He is never one to neglect punishment.
Sheer laziness, though they were never lazy.
لَكِنَّهُbut he يَسعىtoils وَيَذهَبُand goes سَعيُهُhis labor
لَكِنَّهُ يَسعى وَيَذهَبُ سَعيُهُ
لِلقِسِّto the priest وَالشَمّاسِand the deacon وَالموترانِand the bishop
لِلقِسِّ وَالشَمّاسِ وَالموترانِ
But he labors, and his labor goes
But He strives, though His striving
Yet they toil, and the fruit of their labor goes
to the priest, the deacon, and the bishop.
Benefits only the priest, the deacon, and the beadle.
To the Priest, the Deacon, and the Bishop.
لَولاwere it not for اِحتِرامِيَmy respect for مَذهَباًa creed عُرِفواthey are known بِهِby it
لَولا اِحتِرامِيَ مَذهَباً عُرِفوا بِهِ
لَكَشَفتُI would expose مَستوراتِهِمtheir hidden things بِبَيانِin plain words
لَكَشَفتُ مَستوراتِهِم بِبَيانِ
Were it not for my respect for the creed they are known by,
If I did not respect their well-known doctrine
Were it not for my respect for the faith they profess,
I would lay bare their secrets in plain words.
I would reveal their secrets openly.
I would have exposed their hidden secrets for all to see.
فَتَنَبَّهواso awaken إِنif كُنتُمُyou are فيin غَفلَةٍheedlessness
فَتَنَبَّهوا إِن كُنتُمُ في غَفلَةٍ
فَالدَهرُfor time بِالمِرصادِlies in wait لِلغَفلانِfor the heedless
فَالدَهرُ بِالمِرصادِ لِلغَفلانِ
So awaken, if you are heedless,
So beware if you are heedless,
So awake, if you are slumbering in heedlessness,
for time lies in wait for the unwary.
For fate lies in wait for the heedless.
For Fate lies in ambush for the unaware.
إِنَّindeed الأَبالِسَthe devils حينَwhen أَعياbaffled أَمرُكُمyour affairs
إِنَّ الأَبالِسَ حينَ أَعيا أَمرُكُم
جاءَتكُمُthey came to you فيin صورَةِthe guise of الرُهبانِmonks
جاءَتكُمُ في صورَةِ الرُهبانِ
Indeed, when your affairs baffled the devils,
Verily, when the devils despaired of your affairs
When the devils grew weary of corrupting you,
they came to you in the guise of monks.
They came to you in the guise of monks.
They came to you in the guise of monks.
فَحَذارِso beware مِنof أَنthat تُخدَعواyou may be deceived بِلِباسِهِمby their garb
فَحَذارِ مِن أَن تُخدَعوا بِلِباسِهِم
فَهُمُfor they الضَواريpredatory beasts فيin لِباسِthe clothing of الضانِsheep
فَهُمُ الضَواري في لِباسِ الضانِ
So beware of being deceived by their garb,
Beware of being deceived by their attire
Beware lest you be deceived by their robes,
for they are beasts of prey in sheep's clothing.
For they are wolves in the clothing of sheep.
For they are wolves dressed in the wool of sheep.
مَنwhoever يَتبَعِfollows العُميانَthe blind حُبّاًout of love بِالهُدىfor guidance
مَن يَتبَعِ العُميانَ حُبّاً بِالهُدى
لاmust not يَأمَنَّنfeel safe from (emphatic) تَعَثُّرَthe stumbling of العُميانِthe blind
لا يَأمَنَّن تَعَثُّرَ العُميانِ
Whoever follows the blind out of love for guidance
One who follows the blind out of love for guidance
He who follows the blind, hoping for guidance,
must never feel safe from the stumbling of the blind.
Will surely stumble with the blind.
Shall not be safe from stumbling as the blind do.
إِنif كانَthere is ليfor me ذَنبٌa sin وَهُمand they غُفرانُهُits forgiveness
إِن كانَ لي ذَنبٌ وَهُم غُفرانُهُ
آثَرتُI would prefer أَنto أَبقىremain بِلاwithout غُفرانِforgiveness
آثَرتُ أَن أَبقى بِلا غُفرانِ
If I have a sin, and forgiveness rests with them,
If I have a sin and they are its forgiveness
If I bear a sin for which they hold the forgiveness,
I would prefer to remain without forgiveness.
I prefer to remain without forgiveness.
I choose to remain forever unforgiven.
أَوor كُنتُI were فيin النيرانبِthe fires حَيثُwhere لَدَيهُمُin their possession
أَو كُنتُ في النيرانبِ حَيثُ لَدَيهُمُ
مِنهاfrom them النَجاةُdeliverance رَضيطُI would be content بِالنيرانِwith the fires
مِنها النَجاةُ رَضيطُ بِالنيرانِ
Or were I in the fires, while in their hands lay
Or if I am in the fires while deliverance from it
Or if I were in Hellfire, and they held
deliverance from those fires, I would be content with the fires.
Lies with them, I am content with the fires.
The means of salvation, I would accept the flames.
أَشهىmore desirable إِلىto نَفسيmy soul مِنَthan الذُلِّhumiliation الرَدىdeath
أَشهى إِلى نَفسي مِنَ الذُلِّ الرَدى
لاnot يَرتَضيis content بِالذُلِّwith humiliation غَيرُother than جَبانِa coward
لا يَرتَضي بِالذُلِّ غَيرُ جَبانِ
Death is sweeter to my soul than humiliation;
More agreeable to my soul than disgraceful submission
Death is sweeter to my soul than humiliation;
none but a coward accepts humiliation.
Which only cowards can accept.
None accepts humiliation but a coward.
Sol 6.1