ليfor me فيكَin you حينَwhen بَداappeared سَناكَyour radiance وَأَشرَقاand shone
لي فيكَ حينَ بَدا سَناكَ وَأَشرَقا
أَمَلٌa hope سَأَلتُI asked اللَهَGod أَنthat يَتَحَقَّقاit come true
أَمَلٌ سَأَلتُ اللَهَ أَن يَتَحَقَّقا
In you, when your radiance appeared and shone, I had
For me, when your youth dawned and shone bright
A hope I asked God to fulfill.
I had a hope I asked God to make right
أَشرِقshine عَلَيناupon us بِالسُعودِwith good fortune وَلاand do not تَكُنbe
أَشرِق عَلَينا بِالسُعودِ وَلا تَكُن
كَأَخيكَlike your brother مَشئومَill-omened المَنازِلِthe celestial stations أَخرَقاfoolish
كَأَخيكَ مَشئومَ المَنازِلِ أَخرَقا
Shine upon us with good fortune, and do not be
Dawn on us with good fortune, do not be
Like your brother, ill-omened in his stations and foolish.
Like your ill-starred brother, bleak of plight
قَدindeed كانَhe was جَرّاحَa wounder النُفوسِof souls فِداوِهاso heal them
قَد كانَ جَرّاحَ النُفوسِ فِداوِها
مِمّاof what بِهاis within them وَكُنِand be الطَبيبَthe physician مُوَفَّقاsuccessful
مِمّا بِها وَكُنِ الطَبيبَ مُوَفَّقا
He wounded souls; so heal them
He who healed souls became their plague
Of their afflictions, and be a successful physician.
Free them of their ills, be fortunate
هَلَّلتُI shouted for joy حينَwhen لَمَحتُI glimpsed نورَthe light جَبينِهِof his brow
هَلَّلتُ حينَ لَمَحتُ نورَ جَبينِهِ
وَرَجَوتُand I hoped فيهِin him الخَيرَgoodness حينَwhen تَأَلَّقاhe shone
وَرَجَوتُ فيهِ الخَيرَ حينَ تَأَلَّقا
I shouted for joy when I glimpsed the light of his brow,
I rejoiced when I glimpsed the light of his brow
And hoped for goodness in him when he shone.
And hoped for good when it shone bright
وَهَزَزتُهُand I stirred him بِقَصيدَةٍwith a poem لَوif أَنَّهاthat it
وَهَزَزتُهُ بِقَصيدَةٍ لَو أَنَّها
تُلِيَتwere recited عَلىto الصَخرِrock الأَصَمِّdeaf لَأَغدَقاit would pour forth bounty
تُلِيَت عَلى الصَخرِ الأَصَمِّ لَأَغدَقا
And I stirred him with a poem which, had it
I stirred him with a poem, had it been
Been recited to deaf rock, would have made it pour forth bounty.
Recited to deaf rock, it would weep right
فَنَأىbut he drew away بِجانِبِهِwith his side turned وَخَصَّand singled out بِنَحسِهِwith his ill luck
فَنَأى بِجانِبِهِ وَخَصَّ بِنَحسِهِ
مِصراًEgypt وَأَسرَفَand was excessive فيin النُحوسِill fortunes وَأَغرَقاand went to extremes
مِصراً وَأَسرَفَ في النُحوسِ وَأَغرَقا
But he turned away and singled out, with his ill luck,
But he turned away, intent on his ill-luck
Egypt, bringing ill fortune to excess and beyond all bounds.
And persisted in misfortune and sunk tight
لَوif كُنتُI were أَعلَمُI knew ماwhat يُخَبِّئُهُhe conceals it لَناfor us
لَو كُنتُ أَعلَمُ ما يُخَبِّئُهُ لَنا
لَسَأَلتُI would have asked رَبّيmy Lord ضارِعاًimploringly أَنthat يُمحَقاhe be obliterated
لَسَأَلتُ رَبّي ضارِعاً أَن يُمحَقا
Had I known what he was hiding for us,
Had I known what he hid for us
I would have begged my Lord to wipe him out.
I'd have prayed fervently for him wiped outright
أَولىhe granted الأَعاجِمَthe non-Arabs مِنَّةًa favor مَذكورَةًremembered
أَولى الأَعاجِمَ مِنَّةً مَذكورَةً
وَأَعادَand restored لِلأَتراكِto the Turks ذاكَthat الرَونَقاsplendor
وَأَعادَ لِلأَتراكِ ذاكَ الرَونَقا
He granted the non-Arabs a memorable favor,
He did the non-Arabs a noted favor
And restored that splendor to the Turks.
And restored the Turks their former might
وَتَغَيَّرَتand changed فيهِin his time الخُطوبُevents بِفارِسٍin Persia
وَتَغَيَّرَت فيهِ الخُطوبُ بِفارِسٍ
حَتّىuntil رَأَيتُI saw الشاهَthe Shah يَخشىfeared البَيدَقاthe pawn
حَتّى رَأَيتُ الشاهَ يَخشى البَيدَقا
And in his time affairs in Persia changed,
Affairs changed for him because of Persia
Until I saw the Shah afraid of a pawn.
Till I saw the Shah fear his troops in flight
وَأَدالَand turned the tide مِنagainst عَبدِAbd الحَميدِal-Hamid لِشَعبِهِin favor of his people
وَأَدالَ مِن عَبدِ الحَميدِ لِشَعبِهِ
فَهَوىso he fell وَحاوَلَand tried أَنto يَعودَreturn فَأَخفَقاbut failed
فَهَوى وَحاوَلَ أَن يَعودَ فَأَخفَقا
And he turned the tide against Abd al-Hamid in favor of his people;
And he handed over from Abdul Hamid to his people
He fell, and tried to return, but failed.
So desires returned and he failed outright
أَمسىhe came to يُباليfear حارِساًa guard مِنfrom جُندِهِhis troops
أَمسى يُبالي حارِساً مِن جُندِهِ
وَلَقَدand indeed يَكونُhe used to be وَماwhile not يُباليfearing الفَيلَقاthe legion
وَلَقَد يَكونُ وَما يُبالي الفَيلَقا
He came to fear a guard from his own troops,
He cares not, keeping watch o'er his troops
Though once he cared nothing for a whole legion.
As elephants care not for ants in sight
وَرَمىand cast عَلىupon أَرضِthe land الكِنانَةِof al-Kinana (Egypt) جِرمَهُhis bulk
وَرَمى عَلى أَرضِ الكِنانَةِ جِرمَهُ
بِالنازِلاتِwith calamities السودِblack حَتّىuntil أَرهَقاhe wore down
بِالنازِلاتِ السودِ حَتّى أَرهَقا
And he cast his bulk upon the land of al-Kinana,
And he cast his crime upon Kinana's land
With black calamities, until he wore it down.
With calamities till it was weighted tight
حَصَدَتreaped مَناجِلُهُhis sickles غِراسَthe seedlings رَجائِناof our hope
حَصَدَت مَناجِلُهُ غِراسَ رَجائِنا
وَلَوand if أَنَّهاthat they أَبقَتhad spared عَلَيهِit لَأَورَقاit would have leafed
وَلَو أَنَّها أَبقَت عَلَيهِ لَأَورَقا
His sickles reaped the seedlings of our hope;
His sickles reaped our hopes' harvest
Had they spared that planting, it would have put forth leaves.
If spared, it would have flourished upright
فَتَقَيَّدَتso was shackled فيهِin his time الصِحافَةُthe press عَنوَةًby force
فَتَقَيَّدَت فيهِ الصِحافَةُ عَنوَةً
وَمَشىand roamed الهَوىcaprice بَينَamong الرَعِيَّةِthe subjects مُطلَقاunrestrained
وَمَشى الهَوى بَينَ الرَعِيَّةِ مُطلَقا
In his time the press was shackled by force,
The press was bound forcibly by him
And caprice roamed freely among the subjects.
And desire roamed freely unleashed outright
وَأَتىand came يُساوِمُbargaining فيover القَناةِthe Canal خَديعَةًdeceitfully
وَأَتى يُساوِمُ في القَناةِ خَديعَةً
وَلَوَand if اِنَّهاthat it تَمَّتhad gone through لَتَمَّwould have become complete بِهاthrough it الشَقاmisery
وَلَوَ اِنَّها تَمَّت لَتَمَّ بِها الشَقا
And he came bargaining over the Canal in deceit;
And he came to bargain the Canal, deceitful
Had it gone through, misery would have been complete.
If done, it would have split us outright
إِنَّindeed البَلِيَّةَthe calamity أَنthat تُباعَshe be sold وَتُشتَرىand be bought
إِنَّ البَلِيَّةَ أَن تُباعَ وَتُشتَرى
مِصرٌEgypt وَماand what فيهاis within her وَأَلّاand not to تَنطِقاspeak
مِصرٌ وَما فيها وَأَلّا تَنطِقا
The calamity is that she should be bought and sold—
The calamity - that Egypt be sold and bought
Egypt and all within her—and not utter a word.
And all in it, yet cannot speak upright
كانَتthey used to تُواسيناconsole us عَلىin آلامِناour pains
كانَت تُواسينا عَلى آلامِنا
صُحُفٌnewspapers إِذاwhen نَزَلَdescended البَلاءُcalamity وَأَطبَقاand closed in
صُحُفٌ إِذا نَزَلَ البَلاءُ وَأَطبَقا
They used to console us in our pain—
The papers once consoled us for our pains
The newspapers—when calamity descended and closed in.
When adversities came heavily outright
فَإِذاand when دَعَوتُI summoned الدَمعَtears فَاِستَعصىbut they refused بَكَتthey wept
فَإِذا دَعَوتُ الدَمعَ فَاِستَعصى بَكَت
عَنّاon our behalf أَسىًin sorrow حَتّىuntil تَغَصَّthey choked وَتَشرَقاand choked on tears
عَنّا أَسىً حَتّى تَغَصَّ وَتَشرَقا
And when I summoned tears and they refused, the papers wept
If I called and the tears refused to flow
For us in sorrow, until they choked on their tears.
They wept for us, sad till they burst outright
كانَتthey were لَناfor us يَومَon the day of الشَدائِدِhardships أَسهُماًarrows
كانَت لَنا يَومَ الشَدائِدِ أَسهُماً
نَرميwe shot بِهاwith them وَسَوابِقاًand swift steeds يَومَon the day of اللِقاbattle
نَرمي بِها وَسَوابِقاً يَومَ اللِقا
In times of hardship they were arrows for us,
In days of woes, they were arrows for us
Which we shot, and swift steeds on the day of battle.
To shoot, and racers on day of fight
كانَتthey were صِماماًa safety valve لِلنُفوسِfor souls إِذاwhen غَلَتboiled
كانَت صِماماً لِلنُفوسِ إِذا غَلَت
فيهاwithin them الهُمومُcares وَأَوشَكَتand were about أَنto تَزهَقاperish
فيها الهُمومُ وَأَوشَكَت أَن تَزهَقا
They were a safety valve for souls when
They were a valve for souls when laden
Cares boiled within them and they nearly perished.
With cares, and nearly choked outright
كَمhow often نَفَّسَتthey relieved عَنfrom صَدرِthe breast of حُرٍّa free man واجِدٍgrieving
كَم نَفَّسَت عَن صَدرِ حُرٍّ واجِدٍ
لَولاwere it not for الصِمامُthe valve مِنَfrom الأَسىsorrow لَتَمَزَّقاit would have burst
لَولا الصِمامُ مِنَ الأَسى لَتَمَزَّقا
How often they eased the breast of a grieving free man;
How they eased many a freeman's breast
But for that valve, it would have burst with sorrow.
If not for the valve, they would tear outright
ماwhat ليis with me أَنوحُI lament عَلىover الصِحافَةِthe press جازِعاًin distress
ما لي أَنوحُ عَلى الصِحافَةِ جازِعاً
ماذاwhat أَلَمَّbefell بِهاit وَماذاand what أَحدَقاencircled
ماذا أَلَمَّ بِها وَماذا أَحدَقا
Why do I lament the press in such distress?
Why do I mourn the press, despairing so
What has befallen it, and what has hemmed it in?
What has befallen it, besieging outright?
قَصّواthey clipped حَواشِيَهاits edges وَظَنّواand thought أَنَّهُمthat they
قَصّوا حَواشِيَها وَظَنّوا أَنَّهُم
أَمِنواwere safe from صَواعِقَهاits thunderbolts فَكانَتbut it was أَصعَقاmore thunderous
أَمِنوا صَواعِقَها فَكانَت أَصعَقا
They clipped its edges and imagined that they
They cut its margins, thinking they
Were safe from its thunderbolts, but it thundered more fiercely.
Escaped its thunderbolts, but were struck outright
وَأَتَواand brought بِحاذِقِهِمwith their expert يَكيدُplotting لَهاagainst it بِماwith what
وَأَتَوا بِحاذِقِهِم يَكيدُ لَها بِما
يَثنيwould bend عَزائِمَهاits resolves فَكانَتbut it was أَحذَقاmore skillful
يَثني عَزائِمَها فَكانَت أَحذَقا
And they brought their expert to plot against it with what
And they brought their cunning one to plot against it
Would bend its resolve, but it proved more skillful.
To weaken its resolve, but it was too bright
أَهلاًwelcome بِنابِتَةِto the young shoots البِلادِof the land وَمَرحَباًand welcome
أَهلاً بِنابِتَةِ البِلادِ وَمَرحَباً
جَدَّدتُمُyou renewed العَهدَthe covenant الَّذيwhich قَدalready أَخلَقاwore out
جَدَّدتُمُ العَهدَ الَّذي قَد أَخلَقا
Welcome to the young shoots of the land, welcome!
Hello country's growth, welcome - you
You have renewed the covenant that had worn thin.
Renewed the pact which had come undone outright
لاdo not تَيأَسواdespair أَنthat تَستَرِدّواyou reclaim مَجدَكُمyour glory
لا تَيأَسوا أَن تَستَرِدّوا مَجدَكُم
فَلَرُبَّfor many a مَغلوبٍvanquished man هَوىfell ثُمَّthen اِرتَقىrose
فَلَرُبَّ مَغلوبٍ هَوى ثُمَّ اِرتَقى
Do not despair of reclaiming your glory,
Despair not to regain your glory
For many a vanquished man has fallen, then risen.
For many a fallen soul rose in flight
مَدَّتstretched out لَهُto him الآمالُhopes مِنfrom أَفلاكِهاtheir celestial spheres
مَدَّت لَهُ الآمالُ مِن أَفلاكِها
خَيطَa thread الرَجاءِof hope إِلىtoward العُلاthe heights فَتَسَلَّقاand he climbed
خَيطَ الرَجاءِ إِلى العُلا فَتَسَلَّقا
Hopes stretched out to him from their celestial spheres
Hopes from their heavens cast for him
A thread of hope toward the heights, and he climbed it.
The thread of hope to heights he climbed outright
فَتَجَشَّمواso shoulder لِلمَجدِfor glory كُلَّevery عَظيمَةٍgreat hardship
فَتَجَشَّموا لِلمَجدِ كُلَّ عَظيمَةٍ
إِنّيindeed I رَأَيتُfound المَجدَglory صَعبَdifficult المُرتَقىthe ascent
إِنّي رَأَيتُ المَجدَ صَعبَ المُرتَقى
So shoulder every great hardship for glory;
So take on every mighty hardship for glory
I have found glory a difficult height to climb.
I've seen glory is hard to gain upright
مَنwhoever رامَsought وَصلَto reach الشَمسِthe sun حاكَwove خُيوطَهاits threads
مَن رامَ وَصلَ الشَمسِ حاكَ خُيوطَها
سَبَباًa rope إِلىtoward آمالِهِhis hopes وَتَعَلَّقاand clung
سَبَباً إِلى آمالِهِ وَتَعَلَّقا
Whoever seeks to reach the sun weaves its threads
Who wished to reach the sun, wove its threads
Into a rope toward his hopes, and clings to it.
A cause to his hopes, and climbed outright
عارٌa disgrace عَلىfor اِبنِthe son of النيلِthe Nile سَبّاقِoutstripping الوَرىmankind
عارٌ عَلى اِبنِ النيلِ سَبّاقِ الوَرى
مَهماhowever تَقَلَّبَchanged دَهرُهُhis times أَنto يُسبَقاbe outstripped
مَهما تَقَلَّبَ دَهرُهُ أَن يُسبَقا
It is a disgrace for the son of the Nile, who outstrips mankind,
Shame on Nile's son, the world's pace-maker
However his times may change, to be outstripped.
However much his fate revolved outright
أَوَand is it كُلَّماwhenever قالواthey said تَجَمَّعَunited شَملُهُمtheir ranks
أَوَ كُلَّما قالوا تَجَمَّعَ شَملُهُم
لَعِبَtoyed الشِقاقُdiscord بِجَمعِناwith our ranks فَتَفَرَّقاso they scattered
لَعِبَ الشِقاقُ بِجَمعِنا فَتَفَرَّقا
Is it that whenever they say their ranks have united,
Or whenever they said, their unity fell apart
Discord toys with our ranks and scatters them?
Discord played with our unity, so they split outright
فَتَدَفَّقواso pour forth حُجَجاًarguments وَحوطواand safeguard نيلَكُمyour Nile
فَتَدَفَّقوا حُجَجاً وَحوطوا نيلَكُم
فَلَكَمfor how often أَفاضَit poured abundantly عَلَيكُمُupon you وَتَدَفَّقاand streamed forth
فَلَكَم أَفاضَ عَلَيكُمُ وَتَدَفَّقا
So pour forth arguments, and safeguard your Nile;
So flow copiously, and contain your Nile
For how often it has poured bounty upon you and streamed forth!
For how often did it overflow and burst outright?
حَمَلواthey attacked عَلَيناupon us بِالزَمانِwith time وَصَرفِهِand its vicissitudes
حَمَلوا عَلَينا بِالزَمانِ وَصَرفِهِ
فَتَأَنَّقواso they showed finesse فيin سَلبِناrobbing us وَتَأَنَّقاand it did too
فَتَأَنَّقوا في سَلبِنا وَتَأَنَّقا
They attacked us with time and its vicissitudes,
They blamed the times and its turns against us
So they excelled at despoiling us, and so did time.
Primping as they robbed us outright
هَزّواthey shook مَغارِبَهاits western lands فَهابَتso they feared بَأسَهُمtheir might
هَزّوا مَغارِبَها فَهابَت بَأسَهُم
ياO وَيلَكُمwoe to you إِنif لَمnot تَهُزّواyou shake المَشرِقاthe East
يا وَيلَكُم إِن لَم تَهُزّوا المَشرِقا
They shook the western lands, which feared their might;
They shook its West, so their might shook
Woe to you if you fail to shake the East!
Woe to you if you don't shake the East outright
فَتَعَلَّمواso learn فَالعِلمُfor knowledge مِفتاحُthe key to العُلاthe heights
فَتَعَلَّموا فَالعِلمُ مِفتاحُ العُلا
لَمnot يُبقِit left باباًa door لِلسَعادَةِto happiness مُغلَقاclosed
لَم يُبقِ باباً لِلسَعادَةِ مُغلَقا
So learn: knowledge is the key to the heights;
So learn, for knowledge is key to sublime
It has left no door to happiness closed.
Leaving no gate to fortune shut outright
ثُمَّthen اِستَمَدّواdraw مِنهُfrom it كُلَّall قِواكُمُyour strength
ثُمَّ اِستَمَدّوا مِنهُ كُلَّ قِواكُمُ
إِنَّindeed القَوِيَّthe strong بِكُلِّin every أَرضٍland يُتَّقىare feared
إِنَّ القَوِيَّ بِكُلِّ أَرضٍ يُتَّقى
Then draw all your strength from it;
Then derive from it your every power
The strong are feared in every land.
For the strong are feared in every land outright
وَاِبنواand build حَوالَيaround حَوضِكُمyour basin مِنout of يَقظَةٍvigilance
وَاِبنوا حَوالَي حَوضِكُم مِن يَقظَةٍ
سوراًa wall وَخُطّواand lay out مِنof حِذارٍcaution خَندَقاa trench
سوراً وَخُطّوا مِن حِذارٍ خَندَقا
And build around your basin, out of vigilance,
And build a wall of vigil 'round your basin
A wall, and lay out a trench of caution.
And mark with caution a trench outright
وَزِنواand weigh الكَلامَwords وَسَدِّدوهُand aim them true فَإِنَّهُمfor they
وَزِنوا الكَلامَ وَسَدِّدوهُ فَإِنَّهُم
خَبَؤواhave hidden لَكُمfor you فيin كُلِّevery حَرفٍletter مَزلَقاa slippery spot
خَبَؤوا لَكُم في كُلِّ حَرفٍ مَزلَقا
And weigh your words and aim them true, for they
Weigh words and make them straight, for they
Have hidden a slippery spot for you in every letter.
Hid in every letter for you a slippery slide outright
وَاِمشواand walk عَلىwith حَذَرٍcaution فَإِنَّfor indeed طَريقَكُمyour path
وَاِمشوا عَلى حَذَرٍ فَإِنَّ طَريقَكُم
وَعرٌrugged أَطافَencircled بِهِit الهَلاكُdoom وَحَلَّقاand circled overhead
وَعرٌ أَطافَ بِهِ الهَلاكُ وَحَلَّقا
And walk with caution, for your path
And walk cautiously, for your path
Is rugged; doom has ringed it and circled overhead.
Is rugged, rimmed by death hovering outright
نَصَبواthey set لَكُمfor you فيهِalong it الفِخاخَtraps وَأَرصَدواand prepared
نَصَبوا لَكُم فيهِ الفِخاخَ وَأَرصَدوا
لِلسالِكينَfor travelers بِكُلِّin every فَجٍّpass مَوبِقاa deadly peril
لِلسالِكينَ بِكُلِّ فَجٍّ مَوبِقا
They have set traps for you along it and prepared
They set traps for you in it and lay in wait
For travelers, in every pass, a deadly peril.
In every steep place an ambush outright
المَوتُdeath فيin غِشيانِهِentering it وَطُروقِهِand treading it
المَوتُ في غِشيانِهِ وَطُروقِهِ
وَالمَوتُand death كُلُّutter المَوتِdeath أَلّاnot to يُطرَقاbe trodden
وَالمَوتُ كُلُّ المَوتِ أَلّا يُطرَقا
Death lies in entering it and treading it,
Death in its swooping and talons
But death, utter death, lies in leaving it untrodden.
And death - all death - if you do not take flight
فَتَحَيَّنواso watch for فُرَصَopportunities الحَياةِof life كَثيرَةًmany
فَتَحَيَّنوا فُرَصَ الحَياةِ كَثيرَةً
وَتَعَجَّلوهاand hasten them بِالعَزائِمِwith firm resolves وَالرُقىand charms
وَتَعَجَّلوها بِالعَزائِمِ وَالرُقى
So watch for life's many opportunities,
So seize life's opportunities, many
And hasten them with firm resolves and charms.
And hasten them with resolves and ascents outright
أَوor فَاِخلُقوهاthen create them قادِرينَcapable فَإِنَّماfor indeed
أَو فَاِخلُقوها قادِرينَ فَإِنَّما
فُرَصُopportunities الحَياةِof life خَليقَةٌworthy أَنto تُخلَقاbe created
فُرَصُ الحَياةِ خَليقَةٌ أَن تُخلَقا
Or else create them, capable as you are; for
Or create them, able, for life's chances
Life's opportunities are worthy of being created.
Are a creation, meant to be created outright
وَتَفَيَّئواand take shelter in ظِلَّthe shade of الأَريكَةِthe throne وَاِقصِدواand approach
وَتَفَيَّئوا ظِلَّ الأَريكَةِ وَاِقصِدوا
مَلِكاًa king بِأُمَّتِهِtoward his nation أَبَرَّmore devoted وَأَرفَقاand gentler
مَلِكاً بِأُمَّتِهِ أَبَرَّ وَأَرفَقا
And shelter in the throne's shade, and approach
And take the shade of the throne, and aim
A king most devoted and gentle toward his nation.
For a king of his nation, so kind and gentle outright
لاmay not زالَcease تاجُthe crown المُلكِof kingship فَوقَabove جَبينِهِhis brow
لا زالَ تاجُ المُلكِ فَوقَ جَبينِهِ
تَحتَbeneath الهِلالِthe crescent يَزينُadorning ذاكَthat المَفرِقاparting of the hair
تَحتَ الهِلالِ يَزينُ ذاكَ المَفرِقا
May the crown of kingship ever remain above his brow,
The crown of kingship still sits on his brow
Beneath the crescent, adorning the parting of his hair.
Under the crescent, adorning that head outright
Sol 6.1