ياO كعبKaʿb ماnot راحset out at evening منany قومٍpeople ولاnor ابتكرواthey set out early
يا كعب ما راح من قومٍ ولا ابتكروا
إلاexcept وللموتِand for death فيin آثارهمtheir tracks حاديa caravan-driver
إلا وللموتِ في آثارهم حادي
O Kaʿb, no people have set out at evening or departed at dawn
O Ka'b, no people have departed or innovated
Without death's caravan-driver following in their tracks.
Except that death has a guide in their footsteps
ياO كعبKaʿb ماnot طلعتrose شمسٌa sun ولاnor غربتset
يا كعب ما طلعت شمسٌ ولا غربت
إلاexcept تُقَرِّبbrings nearer آجالاًallotted lifespans لميعادto an appointed time
إلا تُقَرِّب آجالاً لميعاد
O Kaʿb, no sun has risen or set
O Ka'b, no sun has risen or set
Without bringing lives nearer to their appointed end.
Except to bring their appointed time closer
لاno خيرgood فيin عيشlife منone who يحياlives وليسand there is not لهfor him
لا خير في عيش من يحيا وليس له
ذووbearers of ضغائنresentments لاnot تخفىare concealed وأحقادand grudges
ذوو ضغائن لا تخفى وأحقاد
There is no good in the life of one who lives without
No good in living for one who, though alive
People bearing unconcealed resentments and grudges.
Has foes whose rancor and hatred do not fade
وماand not تحملdeparted قومٌpeople نحوtoward طيتهمtheir intended destination
وما تحمل قومٌ نحو طيتهم
إلاexcept وللموتand for death فيin آثارهمtheir tracks حاديa caravan-driver
إلا وللموت في آثارهم حادي
And no people have departed toward their destination
No people carry ill will toward their own
Without death's caravan-driver following in their tracks.
Except that death has a guide in their footsteps
ياO كعبKaʿb كمhow many منof حمىa protected preserve قومa tribe نزلتI alighted بهin it
يا كعب كم من حمى قوم نزلت به
علىamid صواعقthunderbolts منof زجرٍrebuke وإيعادand threats
على صواعق من زجرٍ وإيعاد
O Kaʿb, how many a tribal preserve have I alighted in,
O Ka'b, how many a protector of a people
Amid thunderbolts of rebuke and threats!
Was struck down by lightning-like rebuke and warning
ياO كعبKaʿb صبراًbe patient ولاand do not تجزعgrieve علىover أحدٍanyone
يا كعب صبراً ولا تجزع على أحدٍ
ياO كعبKaʿb لمnot يبقremains منهاof it غيرother than اجلادendurance
يا كعب لم يبق منها غير اجلاد
O Kaʿb, be patient, and do not grieve for anyone.
O Ka'b, be patient and do not despair for anyone
O Kaʿb, nothing remains of it but endurance.
O Ka'b, none remains but the barren mountains
بيناwhile نقلبwe turn about أرواحاًsouls نحشرجهاwe make them rattle in death
بينا نقلب أرواحاً نحشرجها
كرائحlike an evening traveler راحلdeparting أوor باكرan early traveler غاديsetting out at dawn
كرائح راحل أو باكر غادي
While we turn souls about, making them rattle in the throat,
While we overturn souls and gather them up
Like a traveler leaving at evening, or one setting out at dawn.
Like the breaths of a rider or early walker passing by
إنيindeed I وإياكand you والأمثالand the comparisons نضربهاwe draw them
إني وإياك والأمثال نضربها
فيin حينa time زجرٍrebuke علىamid قربٍcloseness وإبعادand distancing
في حين زجرٍ على قربٍ وإبعاد
Indeed, you and I, as we draw our comparisons,
You and I and the like strike them
In a time of rebuke, amid closeness and estrangement,
In a moment of rebuke, toward nearness and distance
لكالذيsurely like the one who قالsaid يوماًone day فيin معاتبةٍreproach
لكالذي قال يوماً في معاتبةٍ
والناسand people شتىdiverse إلاbut للَهto God أجداديmy forefathers
والناس شتى إلا للَه أجدادي
Are surely like one who said one day in reproach:
Like him who once chided in grievance:
And people are diverse—but to God belong my forefathers.
"People are different, except for my ancestors!"
لاnot الفينكI shall find you بعدafter الموتdeath تندبنيyou lament me
لا الفينك بعد الموت تندبني
وفيand in حياتيmy lifetime ماnot زودتنيyou supplied me زاديmy provisions
وفي حياتي ما زودتني زادي
Let me not find you lamenting me after death,
"Do not mourn me after death,
When in my lifetime you never gave me my provisions.
In life you gave me no provision for my journey"
انظرlook إلىat سلكthe thread دهرٍtime أنتyou تاركهleaving it
انظر إلى سلك دهرٍ أنت تاركه
هلwill ترأسنَyou fasten securely أواخيهits tethering loops بأوتادwith pegs
هل ترأسنَ أواخيه بأوتاد
Look at the thread of time you are leaving behind:
Look to the course of fate you are leaving -
Will you fasten its tethering loops with pegs?
Did you ever rein in its loose ends?
إذاif لقيتyou encounter بوادٍin a valley حيةًa snake ذكراًmale
إذا لقيت بوادٍ حيةً ذكراً
فاهدأthen be still وذرنيand leave me أمارسI grapple with حيةthe snake الواديthe valley
فاهدأ وذرني أمارس حية الوادي
If you encounter a male snake in a valley,
If in a valley you meet a serpent, male,
Then be still, and leave me to grapple with the valley's snake.
Be still and let me practice the serpent's cunning.
Sol 6.1