خابَ من التَّوفيق لَمَّا احتَمَل

خابَ من التَّوفيق لَمَّا احتَمَل

مُحالِفاً إدلاجَهُ والعَمَل

مُحالِفاً إدلاجَهُ والعَمَل

He was denied divine favor when he set out,

He who bears high hopes is doomed to disappointment when events turn out otherwise.

with his night travel and toil as allies.

Bent upon having his way, he makes a stubborn effort to reach his goal.

هوَى إلى البَيتِ هوَت أُمُّهُ

هوَى إلى البَيتِ هوَت أُمُّهُ

لسُمعَةٍ أَنضى عَلَيها الجَمَل

لسُمعَةٍ أَنضى عَلَيها الجَمَل

He rushed toward the House—may his mother perish!—

Like a camel driven by its mother's yearning for home, he hurries homeward.

for renown, for which he wore the camel out.

Yet no laden camel ever reached its journey's end if the path misled.

يَشقى بهِ الحامِلُ لكنّهُ

يَشقى بهِ الحامِلُ لكنّهُ

أَشقى مِنَ الحامِلِ مَن قَد حَمَل

أَشقى مِنَ الحامِلِ مَن قَد حَمَل

The bearer suffers because of him, but he—

the one it has borne—is more wretched than the bearer.

لَم تَبلُغِ البَيتَ خُطا بالِغٍ

لَم تَبلُغِ البَيتَ خُطا بالِغٍ

أَخلَفَهُ فيهِ بُلوغُ الأَمَل

أَخلَفَهُ فيهِ بُلوغُ الأَمَل

The steps of one who arrived did not reach the House—

the fulfillment of his hope failed him there.