إِنَّ أَمامي خَيرَ مَن وَطِئَ الحَصى

إِنَّ أَمامي خَيرَ مَن وَطِئَ الحَصى

لِذي هِمَّةٍ يَرجو الغِنى أَو لِغارِمِ

لِذي هِمَّةٍ يَرجو الغِنى أَو لِغارِمِ

Indeed, before me is the best of those who have trodden the pebbles,

Before me lies the best of those who trod the pebbles

for an ambitious man hoping for wealth, or for a debtor.

For one with ambition who hopes for wealth or a debtor

فَقالوا فَعَلنا حَسبُنا اللَهُ وَاِنتَهَوا

فَقالوا فَعَلنا حَسبُنا اللَهُ وَاِنتَهَوا

جَديلَةَ أَمرٍ يَقطَعُ الشَكَّ عازِمِ

جَديلَةَ أَمرٍ يَقطَعُ الشَكَّ عازِمِ

So they said, “We have done it; God suffices us,” and arrived at

So they said, "God sufficed us," and they desisted

a firm course of action that dispels doubt.

From a grave matter that severs doubt with determination

إِذا لَم يَكُن حِصنٌ سِوى الخَيلِ وَالقَنا

إِذا لَم يَكُن حِصنٌ سِوى الخَيلِ وَالقَنا

يُلاذُ بِهِ وَالمُرهَفاتِ الصَوارِمِ

يُلاذُ بِهِ وَالمُرهَفاتِ الصَوارِمِ

When there is no fortress but horses and lances

If there is no fortress but horses and sharp swords

in which to seek refuge—and keen-edged, cleaving swords.

To resort to, and fierce piercing blades

وَلَمّا مَضَوا عَن خَيرِ سُنَّةِ مَعشَرٍ

وَلَمّا مَضَوا عَن خَيرِ سُنَّةِ مَعشَرٍ

وَقامَ سُلَيمانٌ أَتَت خَيرَ قائِمِ

وَقامَ سُلَيمانٌ أَتَت خَيرَ قائِمِ

And when they departed from a people's finest tradition,

And after they passed the best tradition of a group

and Sulayman arose, it came to the finest ruler.

And Solomon stood up, the best successor came

فَأَلقَت لَهُ الأَيّامُ كُلَّ خَبيأَةٍ

فَأَلقَت لَهُ الأَيّامُ كُلَّ خَبيأَةٍ

عَلى ذِروَةٍ لا تُرتَقى بِالسَلالِمِ

عَلى ذِروَةٍ لا تُرتَقى بِالسَلالِمِ

Then the days laid every hidden treasure before him,

So the days conferred upon him every treasure

upon a summit that cannot be scaled with ladders.

Upon a summit that cannot be climbed with ladders