إِذَاif لَمْnot يَكُنْthere is مِنْfrom حَادِثِthe calamity الدَّهْرِof time مَوْئِلُa refuge
إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ مِنْ حَادِثِ الدَّهْرِ مَوْئِلُ
وَلَمْand not يُغْنِavails عَنْكَyou الْحُزْنُsorrow فَالصَّبْرُthen patience أَجْمَلُis nobler
وَلَمْ يُغْنِ عَنْكَ الْحُزْنُ فَالصَّبْرُ أَجْمَلُ
If there is no refuge from time's calamity,
and sorrow avails you nothing, patience is nobler.
وَأَهْوَنُand the easiest مَاof what لاَقَيْتَyou encountered مَاis what عَزَّproved difficult دَفْعُهُto avert
وَأَهْوَنُ مَا لاَقَيْتَ مَا عَزَّ دَفْعُهُ
وَقدْand sometimes يَصْعُبُgrows difficult الأَمْرُthe matter الأَشَدُّmost severe فَيَسْهُلُthen becomes easy
وَقدْ يَصْعُبُ الأَمْرُ الأَشَدُّ فَيَسْهُلُ
The easiest thing you encounter is what is hardest to avert;
the gravest matter may grow difficult, then become easy.
وَمَاand not هذِهِthis الدُّنْيَاworld بِدَارِa dwelling إِقَامَةٍof lasting residence
وَمَا هذِهِ الدُّنْيَا بِدَارِ إِقَامَةٍ
فَيَحْزَنَso should grieve فِيهَاin it الْقَاطِنُthe resident الْمُتَرَحِّلُbound to depart
فَيَحْزَنَ فِيهَا الْقَاطِنُ الْمُتَرَحِّلُ
This world is no abode of lasting residence,
that its resident, bound to depart, should grieve in it.
هِيَit is الدَّارُthe abode إِلاَّexcept أَنَّهاthat it كَمَفازَةٍis like a desert waste
هِيَ الدَّارُ إِلاَّ أَنَّها كَمَفازَةٍ
أَنَاخَmade camels kneel بِهاtherein رَكْبٌa caravan وَرَكْبٌand a caravan تَحَمَّلُواthey departed
أَنَاخَ بِها رَكْبٌ وَرَكْبٌ تَحَمَّلُوا
It is an abode, yet it is like a desert waste,
where one caravan kneels to rest and another departs.
مُنِينَاwe were afflicted بِهَاwith her خَرْقَاءَa foolish woman لاَnot الْعَذْلُrebuke تَرْعَوِيshe heeds
مُنِينَا بِهَا خَرْقَاءَ لاَ الْعَذْلُ تَرْعَوِي
إِلَيْهِto it وَلاَnor مَحْضَpure النَّصِيحَةadvice تَقْبَلُshe accepts
إِلَيْهِ وَلاَ مَحْضَ النَّصِيحَة تَقْبَلُ
We are afflicted with her, a fool who heeds no rebuke,
nor will she accept sincere advice.
لَنَاfor us وَلَهَاand for her فِيin كلِّevery يَوْمٍday عَجَائِبٌmarvels
لَنَا وَلَهَا فِي كلِّ يَوْمٍ عَجَائِبٌ
يَحَارُis bewildered لَهَاat them لُبُّthe mind اللَّبِيبِof the wise man وَيَذْهَلُand is stunned
يَحَارُ لَهَا لُبُّ اللَّبِيبِ وَيَذْهَلُ
Every day, between us and her, there are marvels
that bewilder and stun the wise man's mind.
يَطُولُgrows long مَدَىthe reach الأَفْكَارِof thoughts فيinto كُنْهِthe essence أَمْرِهاof her affairs
يَطُولُ مَدَى الأَفْكَارِ في كُنْهِ أَمْرِها
فَيَنْكُصُso recoils عَنْfrom غَايَاتِهits farthest limits الْمُتَوَغِّلُthe deep explorer
فَيَنْكُصُ عَنْ غَايَاتِه الْمُتَوَغِّلُ
Thought stretches far into the essence of her affairs,
yet the deepest explorer falls back short of its limits.
وَإِنَّاand indeed we لَمِنْindeed through مَرِّthe passing الْجَدِيدَيْنِof day and night فيin وَغىًbattle
وَإِنَّا لَمِنْ مَرِّ الْجَدِيدَيْنِ في وَغىً
إِذَاwhen فَرَّflees مِنْهَاfrom it جَحْفَلٌa great host كَرَّcharges جَحْفَلُa great host
إِذَا فَرَّ مِنْهَا جَحْفَلٌ كَرَّ جَحْفَلُ
Through the passing of day and night, we are indeed in battle:
when one host flees from it, another charges.
تُجَرِّدُshe unsheathes نَصْلاًa blade وَالْخَلاَئِقُand all creatures مَفْصِلٌa joint
تُجَرِّدُ نَصْلاً وَالْخَلاَئِقُ مَفْصِلٌ
وَتُنْبِضُand she looses سَهْماًan arrow وَالْبَرِيَّةُand creation مَقْتَلُa vital spot
وَتُنْبِضُ سَهْماً وَالْبَرِيَّةُ مَقْتَلُ
She unsheathes a blade, and all creatures are a joint to cleave;
and looses an arrow, and creation is a vital target.
فَلاَso not نَحْنُwe يَوْماًon any day نَسْتَطِيعُcan دِفَاعَهَاrepel her
فَلاَ نَحْنُ يَوْماً نَسْتَطِيعُ دِفَاعَهَا
وَلاَnor خَطْبُهَاher calamity عَنَّاfrom us يَعِفُّholds back فَيُجْمِلand so acts kindly
وَلاَ خَطْبُهَا عَنَّا يَعِفُّ فَيُجْمِل
Never, for a single day, can we ward her off,
nor does her calamity spare us and deal kindly.
وَلاَnor خَلْفَنَاbehind us مِنْهَاfrom her مَفَرٌّa refuge لِهَارِبٍfor a fugitive
وَلاَ خَلْفَنَا مِنْهَا مَفَرٌّ لِهَارِبٍ
فَكَيْفَso how لِمَنْfor one who رَامَseeks النَّجَاةَdeliverance التَّحَيُّلُcontriving escape
فَكَيْفَ لِمَنْ رَامَ النَّجَاةَ التَّحَيُّلُ
Behind us there is no refuge from her for a fugitive;
so how can anyone seeking deliverance contrive an escape?
وَلاَand no نَاصِرٌhelper إِلاَّexcept التَّمَلْمُلُrestlessness والأَسىand grief
وَلاَ نَاصِرٌ إِلاَّ التَّمَلْمُلُ والأَسى
وَمَاذَاand what الَّذِيis it that يُجْدِيprofits الأَسىgrief وَالتَّمَلْمُلُand restlessness
وَمَاذَا الَّذِي يُجْدِي الأَسى وَالتَّمَلْمُلُ
There is no helper but restlessness and grief;
and what good do grief and restlessness do?
نَبيتُwe pass the night عَلَىupon وَعْدٍa promise مِنَfrom الْمَوْتِdeath صَادِقٍunfailing
نَبيتُ عَلَى وَعْدٍ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ صَادِقٍ
فَمِنْso among them حَائِنٍone whose doom is due يُقْضىis claimed وَآخَرَand another يُمْطَلُis granted delay
فَمِنْ حَائِنٍ يُقْضى وَآخَرَ يُمْطَلُ
We pass the night with death's unfailing promise:
one whose doom is due is claimed, while another is delayed.
وَكُلٌّand everyone وَإِنْeven if طَالَis long الثَّوآءُthe stay مَصِيرُهُhis destination
وَكُلٌّ وَإِنْ طَالَ الثَّوآءُ مَصِيرُهُ
إِلىto مَوْرِدٍa watering place مَاnot عَنْهُaway from it لِلْخَلْقِfor creation مَعْدٍلُa turning aside
إِلى مَوْرِدٍ مَا عَنْهُ لِلْخَلْقِ مَعْدٍلُ
And everyone, however long his stay, has his destination
at a watering place from which no creature can turn aside.
فَوَاso, oh عَجَباwhat wonder مِنْat حَازِمٍa prudent man مُتَيَقِّنٍcertain
فَوَا عَجَبا مِنْ حَازِمٍ مُتَيَقِّنٍ
بِأَنْthat سَوْفَwill يَرْدىhe perishes كَيْفَhow يَلْهُوhe amuses himself وَand يَغْفُلُis heedless
بِأَنْ سَوْفَ يَرْدى كَيْفَ يَلْهُو وَ يَغْفُلُ
How strange—a prudent man who is certain
that he will perish: how can he amuse himself and remain heedless?
أَلاَtake heed لاَnot يَثِقْlet trust بِالدَّهْرِin time مَاas long as عَاشَhe lives ذُوone possessed of حِجَىًunderstanding
أَلاَ لاَ يَثِقْ بِالدَّهْرِ مَا عَاشَ ذُو حِجَىً
فَمَاfor no وَاثِقٌone trusting بِالدَّهْرِin time إِلاَّexcept سَيَخْجَلُwill be shamed
فَمَا وَاثِقٌ بِالدَّهْرِ إِلاَّ سَيَخْجَلُ
Let no man of understanding trust time as long as he lives;
for whoever trusts time will be put to shame.
نَزَلْتُI submitted عَلَىto حُكْمِthe decree الرَّدَىof death فيconcerning مَعاشِرِيmy companions
نَزَلْتُ عَلَى حُكْمِ الرَّدَى في مَعاشِرِي
وَمَنْand who ذَاis there علىto حكمthe decree الردىof death ليسdoes not ينزلsubmit
وَمَنْ ذَا على حكم الردى ليس ينزل
I submitted to death's decree regarding my companions;
and who is there who does not submit to death's decree?
تبدلتI took in exchange بالماضينfor the departed منهمamong them تعلةa consolation
تبدلت بالماضين منهم تعلة
وأينand where منcompared with الْماضِينَthe departed مَنْare those whom أَتَبَدَّلُI take instead
وأين من الْماضِينَ مَنْ أَتَبَدَّلُ
I took a consolation in place of those of them who had passed away;
yet how do those I take instead compare with the departed?
إِذَاwhen مَاءُthe water عَيْنِيof my eye بانَdeparted كَانَwas مُعُوَّلِيmy reliance
إِذَا مَاءُ عَيْنِي بانَ كَانَ مُعُوَّلِي
عَلَىon الدَّمْعِtears إِنَّindeed الدَّمْعَtears بِئْسَwretched is الْمُعوِّلُthe support
عَلَى الدَّمْعِ إِنَّ الدَّمْعَ بِئْسَ الْمُعوِّلُ
When the water of my eye departed, my reliance was
on tears—yet tears are a wretched support.
كَفىsuffices حَزَناًas sorrow أَنْthat يُوقِنَknows for certain الْحَيُّthe living person أَنَّهُthat he
كَفى حَزَناً أَنْ يُوقِنَ الْحَيُّ أَنَّهُ
بِسَيْفِby the sword الرَّدَىof death لاَno بُدَّescape أَنْthat سَوْفَwill يُقْتَلُbe slain
بِسَيْفِ الرَّدَى لاَ بُدَّ أَنْ سَوْفَ يُقْتَلُ
It is sorrow enough for the living man to know for certain
that he must be slain by the sword of death.
لِبَيْكِlet mourn جَمَالَJamal الدَّوْلَةِal-Dawla الْبَأْسُvalor وَالنَّدَىand bounty
لِبَيْكِ جَمَالَ الدَّوْلَةِ الْبَأْسُ وَالنَّدَى
إِذَاwhen قَلَّis scarce مَنَّاعٌa staunch defender وَأَعْوَزَand is lacking مُفْضِلُa generous giver
إِذَا قَلَّ مَنَّاعٌ وَأَعْوَزَ مُفْضِلُ
Let valor and bounty weep for Jamal al-Dawla,
when staunch defenders are scarce and generous givers are lacking.
فَتىًa young man كَانَwas لاَnot يُعْطِيhe grants الْسَّوَاءَequality قَسِيمَهُhis rival
فَتىً كَانَ لاَ يُعْطِي الْسَّوَاءَ قَسِيمَهُ
إِباءًin proud refusal إِذَاwhen مَاever جَاشَseethed لِلْحَرْبِfor war مِرْجَلُa cauldron
إِباءً إِذَا مَا جَاشَ لِلْحَرْبِ مِرْجَلُ
A young man who granted his rival no equality,
out of proud refusal, whenever war's cauldron seethed;
وَلاَand not يَعْرِفُknows الإِظْمَاءَthirst فِيin الْمَحْلِdrought جَارُهُhis neighbor
وَلاَ يَعْرِفُ الإِظْمَاءَ فِي الْمَحْلِ جَارُهُ
سَمَاحاًthrough generosity وَلُوْeven if أَنْthat الْمَجَرَّةَthe Milky Way مَنْهَلُa watering place
سَمَاحاً وَلُوْ أَنْ الْمَجَرَّةَ مَنْهَلُ
and whose neighbor knew no thirst in drought,
through his generosity, even were the Milky Way a watering place.
فَمَنْso who مُبْلِغُwill inform الْعَلْياءِlofty glory أَنِّيَthat I بُعْدَهُafter him
فَمَنْ مُبْلِغُ الْعَلْياءِ أَنِّيَ بُعْدَهُ
ظَمِئْتُI thirsted وَأَخْلاَفُand the udders السّحَائِبِof the clouds حُفَّلُare full
ظَمِئْتُ وَأَخْلاَفُ السّحَائِبِ حُفَّلُ
Who will tell high glory that, after him,
I thirsted, though the clouds' udders were full?
فَوَاso, alas أَسَفَاwhat sorrow مَنْwho لِلطَّرِيدِfor the outcast يُجِيرُهُwill shelter him
فَوَا أَسَفَا مَنْ لِلطَّرِيدِ يُجِيرُهُ
إِذَاwhen ناشَهُseizes him نَابٌa fang مِنَof الْخَوْفِfear أَعْصَلُcrooked
إِذَا ناشَهُ نَابٌ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ أَعْصَلُ
Alas! Who will shelter the outcast
when a crooked fang of fear seizes him?
وَوَاand, alas أَسَفَاwhat sorrow مَنْwho لِلْفَقِيرِfor the poor man يَمِيرُهُwill supply him food
وَوَا أَسَفَا مَنْ لِلْفَقِيرِ يَمِيرُهُ
إِذَاwhen شَفَّهُwastes him دَاءٌa disease مِنَof الْفَقْرِpoverty مُعْضِلُintractable
إِذَا شَفَّهُ دَاءٌ مِنَ الْفَقْرِ مُعْضِلُ
And alas! Who will provision the poor man
when poverty's intractable sickness wastes him away?
تَهَدَّمَhas crumbled ذَاكَthat الْبَاذِخُlofty one الْشَّامِخُtowering الذُّرىin its summits
تَهَدَّمَ ذَاكَ الْبَاذِخُ الْشَّامِخُ الذُّرى
وأَقْلَعَand has withdrawn ذَاكَthat الْعَارِضُrain cloud الْمُتَهَلِّلُbeaming
وأَقْلَعَ ذَاكَ الْعَارِضُ الْمُتَهَلِّلُ
That towering height, with its lofty summits, has crumbled,
and that smiling rain cloud has withdrawn.
فَيَاso, O مَانِعَprotector of اللاَّجِينَthose seeking refuge هَاbehold أَنَاI مُسْلَمٌam abandoned
فَيَا مَانِعَ اللاَّجِينَ هَا أَنَا مُسْلَمٌ
وَيَاand, O مُمْطِرَrain-giver to الرَّاجِينَthe hopeful هَاbehold أَنَاI مُمْحِلُam drought-stricken
وَيَا مُمْطِرَ الرَّاجِينَ هَا أَنَا مُمْحِلُ
O protector of those seeking refuge, behold, I am abandoned;
O rain-giver to those who hope, behold, I am drought-stricken.
أَحِينَwas it when احْتَبىsat with knees drawn up فِيكَwithin you الْكَمَالُperfection وَخُوِّلَتْand were granted
أَحِينَ احْتَبى فِيكَ الْكَمَالُ وَخُوِّلَتْ
يَدَاكَyour two hands مِنَof الْعَليْاءِglory مَاwhat لاَnot يُخَوَّلُis granted
يَدَاكَ مِنَ الْعَليْاءِ مَا لاَ يُخَوَّلُ
Was it when perfection sat at ease within you, and
your hands were granted glory not granted to others,
وَشَايَعَكَand stood by you العَزْمُresolve الْفَتِيُّyouthful وَنَاضَلَand fought النَّthe cala-
وَشَايَعَكَ العَزْمُ الْفَتِيُّ وَنَاضَلَ النَّ
وَائِبَmities عَنْكَon your behalf السُّؤْدَدُnobility الْمُتَكَهِّلُmature
وَائِبَ عَنْكَ السُّؤْدَدُ الْمُتَكَهِّلُ
and youthful resolve supported you, while
mature nobility fought calamities on your behalf,
وَلَمْand not تُبْقِyou left حَظّاًa share مِنْof عُلاًgreatness تَسْتَزيدُهُyou seek more of it
وَلَمْ تُبْقِ حَظّاً مِنْ عُلاً تَسْتَزيدُهُ
وَلاَnor حُلَّةًa robe مِنْof مَفْخَرٍglory تَتَسَرْبَلُyou clothe yourself in
وَلاَ حُلَّةً مِنْ مَفْخَرٍ تَتَسَرْبَلُ
and you left no share of greatness to seek more of,
nor any robe of glory still to clothe yourself in,
رَمَاكَstruck you فَأَصْمَاكَand so killed you outright الزَّمَانُtime بِكَيْدِهِwith its guile
رَمَاكَ فَأَصْمَاكَ الزَّمَانُ بِكَيْدِهِ
كَذَاthus تَنْقُصُwane الأَقْمَارُthe moons أَيّانَwhen تَكْمُلُreach fullness
كَذَا تَنْقُصُ الأَقْمَارُ أَيّانَ تَكْمُلُ
that time struck you and slew you with its guile?
Thus moons wane just when they reach fullness.
وَمَاand not كُنْتُI was أَخْشىfearing أَنْthat يَفُوتَcarries off بِكَyou الرِّدىdeath
وَمَا كُنْتُ أَخْشى أَنْ يَفُوتَ بِكَ الرِّدى
وَلَمَّاwhile not yet يَكْنْthere had been يَوْمٌa day أَغَرُّwhite-blazed مُحَجَّلُwhite-stockinged
وَلَمَّا يَكْنْ يَوْمٌ أَغَرُّ مُحَجَّلُ
I never feared that death would carry you off
before a day, white-blazed and white-stockinged, had come,
وَلَمَّاand not yet يَقُمْhad arisen مِنْin دُونِsupport of ثَأْرِكَvengeance for you مَعْشَرٌa company
وَلَمَّا يَقُمْ مِنْ دُونِ ثَأْرِكَ مَعْشَرٌ
إِذَاwhen عَزَمُواthey resolve فِيamid النَّائِبَاتِcalamities تَوَكَّلُواthey trust in God
إِذَا عَزَمُوا فِي النَّائِبَاتِ تَوَكَّلُوا
and before a company had risen to avenge you,
who, when they resolve amid calamities, put their trust in God:
مَنَاجِيدُmen of valor وَثَّابُونَleaping boldly فِيonto كُلِّevery صَهْوَةٍsaddle
مَنَاجِيدُ وَثَّابُونَ فِي كُلِّ صَهْوَةٍ
مَنَof الْعِزِّhonor قَوَّالُونmighty speakers لِلْمَجْدِfor glory فُعَّلُmighty doers
مَنَ الْعِزِّ قَوَّالُون لِلْمَجْدِ فُعَّلُ
men of valor, leaping onto every saddle
of honor, mighty in word and deed for glory.
أَتَذْهَبُdo you depart لَمْnot يُشْرَعْis leveled َأَمَامَكَbefore you ذَابِلa supple spear
أَتَذْهَبُ لَمْ يُشْرَعْ َأَمَامَكَ ذَابِل
لِمَنْعٍfor defense وَلَمْand not يُشْهَرْis unsheathed وَرَاءَكَbehind you مُنْصُلُa sword
لِمَنْعٍ وَلَمْ يُشْهَرْ وَرَاءَكَ مُنْصُلُ
Do you depart with no supple spear leveled before you
for defense, and no sword unsheathed behind you?
فَهَلاَّthen why not بِحيْثُwhere الْمَشْرَفِيَّةُMashrafi swords رُكَّعٌbowing
فَهَلاَّ بِحيْثُ الْمَشْرَفِيَّةُ رُكَّعٌ
تُكَبِّرُproclaim God's greatness فِيin هَامِthe heads الْعِدىof enemies وَتُهَلِّلُand proclaim God's oneness
تُكَبِّرُ فِي هَامِ الْعِدى وَتُهَلِّلُ
Why not where Mashrafi swords bow,
proclaiming God's greatness and oneness in the enemies' heads?
وَأَلاَّand why not بِحَيْثُwhere السَّمْهَرِيَّةُSamhari spears شُرَّعٌleveled
وَأَلاَّ بِحَيْثُ السَّمْهَرِيَّةُ شُرَّعٌ
تُعَلُّare given another draught مِنَfrom الأَكْبَادِthe livers رَياًto satiety وَتُنْهَلُand are given a first draught
تُعَلُّ مِنَ الأَكْبَادِ رَياً وَتُنْهَلُ
And why not where Samhari spears are leveled,
watered to satiety from livers, draught after draught?
كَدَأْبِكَas was your habit أَيَّامَin days when الْحَوَادِثُcalamities نُوَّمٌasleep
كَدَأْبِكَ أَيَّامَ الْحَوَادِثُ نُوَّمٌ
وَجَدُّكَand your fortune يَقْظَانٌawake وَحَدُّكَand your edge مِقْصَلُsevering
وَجَدُّكَ يَقْظَانٌ وَحَدُّكَ مِقْصَلُ
As was your habit in the days when calamities slept,
while your fortune stayed awake and your edge severed.
فَهَلْso does عَالِمٌknow جَيْهَانُJayhan أَنَّكَthat you بَعْدَهُafter him
فَهَلْ عَالِمٌ جَيْهَانُ أَنَّكَ بَعْدَهُ
رَمىhurled بِكَyou مَرْمَاهُto his destination الْحِمَامُdeath المُعَجَّلُhastened
رَمى بِكَ مَرْمَاهُ الْحِمَامُ المُعَجَّلُ
Does Jayhan know that, after him,
hastened death hurled you to the same destination?
سَلَكْتَyou followed وَإِيَّاهُand he سَبيلاًa path غَدَاbecame بِهِalong it
سَلَكْتَ وَإِيَّاهُ سَبيلاً غَدَا بِهِ
زَمَانُكُمَاyour shared time فيin قِسْمَةِapportioning الْجَوْرِinjustice يَعْدِلُis just
زَمَانُكُمَا في قِسْمَةِ الْجَوْرِ يَعْدِلُ
You and he followed a path on which
your time became just in its apportioning of injustice.
سَقَاكَmay water you وَإِنْthough لَمْnot يُرْضِنِيsatisfy me فِيكَfor you وَابِلٌa downpour
سَقَاكَ وَإِنْ لَمْ يُرْضِنِي فِيكَ وَابِلٌ
وَلَوْand if حَلَّwere lawful لِيfor me قُلْتُI would say الرَّحِيقُpure wine الْمُسَلْسَلُsmooth-flowing
وَلَوْ حَلَّ لِي قُلْتُ الرَّحِيقُ الْمُسَلْسَلُ
May a downpour water you, though for you it does not satisfy me,
(were it lawful for me, I would say, 'smooth-flowing pure wine'),
مِنَfrom الْمُزْنِthe rain clouds مَشْمَولٌnorth-wind-cooled يَرِفُّshimmering كَأَنَّهُas though it
مِنَ الْمُزْنِ مَشْمَولٌ يَرِفُّ كَأَنَّهُ
بِجُودِwith the bounty جَلاَلِof Jalal الْمُلْكِal-Mulk يَهْمِيpours وَيَهْطِلُand streams down
بِجُودِ جَلاَلِ الْمُلْكِ يَهْمِي وَيَهْطِلُ
from the rain clouds, cooled by the north wind, shimmering as though
it poured and streamed with Jalal al-Mulk's bounty.
وَمَهْمَاand whenever هَفَتْwafts يَوْماًone day مِنَfrom الْجَوِّthe air نَفْحَةٌa breath
وَمَهْمَا هَفَتْ يَوْماً مِنَ الْجَوِّ نَفْحَةٌ
فَهَبَّthen may blow بِحِضْنَيْكَat your two sides النَّسِيمُthe breeze الْمُمَنْدَلُsandalwood-scented
فَهَبَّ بِحِضْنَيْكَ النَّسِيمُ الْمُمَنْدَلُ
And whenever a breath wafts one day from the air,
may the sandalwood-scented breeze blow at your two sides.
وَلاَand may not عَدِمَlack الْمَوْلىthe lord مِنَof الأَجْرِthe reward خَيْرَهُits best
وَلاَ عَدِمَ الْمَوْلى مِنَ الأَجْرِ خَيْرَهُ
وَبُلِّغَand may he be granted فِيregarding أَعْدَائِهِhis enemies مَاwhat يُؤَمِّلُhe hopes for
وَبُلِّغَ فِي أَعْدَائِهِ مَا يُؤَمِّلُ
May the lord never lack the best of the reward,
and may he attain what he hopes for against his enemies.
فِدَىًa ransom لَكَfor you مَنْall who تَحْتَbeneath السِّماءِthe heavens وَلاَand may not تَزَلْyou cease
فِدَىً لَكَ مَنْ تَحْتَ السِّماءِ وَلاَ تَزَلْ
وَمجْدُكَand your glory مَرْفُوعُraised high الْبِنَاءِin structure مُؤَثِّلُfirmly founded
وَمجْدُكَ مَرْفُوعُ الْبِنَاءِ مُؤَثِّلُ
May all beneath the heavens be your ransom, and may you ever remain,
your glory a lofty, firmly founded edifice.
إِذَاif جَلَّgrows grave خَطْبٌa calamity غَالَovercomes همَّكَyour concern عِنْدَهُbefore it
إِذَا جَلَّ خَطْبٌ غَالَ همَّكَ عِنْدَهُ
نُهمىًvast capacity (unclear form) تَسَعُencompasses الْخَطْبَthe calamity الْجَلِيلَgreat وَتَفْضُلُand has room to spare
نُهمىً تَسَعُ الْخَطْبَ الْجَلِيلَ وَتَفْضُلُ
If a calamity grows grave, your concern in facing it is overcome
by a vast capacity that contains great calamity, with room to spare.
وأَرْغَمْتَand you humbled أَنْفَthe nose النَّائِبَاتِof calamities بِوَطْأَةٍwith a tread
وأَرْغَمْتَ أَنْفَ النَّائِبَاتِ بِوَطْأَةٍ
تَخِفُّis light عَلَىupon ظَهْرِthe back الزَّمَانِof time وَتَثْقُلُand is heavy
تَخِفُّ عَلَى ظَهْرِ الزَّمَانِ وَتَثْقُلُ
And you rubbed calamities' noses in dust with a tread
that is light upon time's back, yet heavy.
وَأَيُّand what مُلِمٍّaffliction يزدهيكcan unsettle you وإنماand indeed only
وَأَيُّ مُلِمٍّ يزدهيك وإنما
بحملكby your endurance فيin أمثالهits like يتمثلone cites as a model
بحملك في أمثاله يتمثل
And what affliction could unsettle you, when
your endurance in its like is held proverbial?
غنيتyou have no need بِمَاthanks to what تَقْضِيdecrees بِهِthrough it عِنْدَكَwithin you النُّهىreason
غنيت بِمَا تَقْضِي بِهِ عِنْدَكَ النُّهى
وَفَضْلِكَand your excellence عَنْfor تَعْرِيفbeing told مَاwhat لَسْتَyou are not تَجْهَلُignorant of
وَفَضْلِكَ عَنْ تَعْرِيف مَا لَسْتَ تَجْهَلُ
You have no need, thanks to what your own reason decides
and to your excellence, to be told what you already know.
وَمَاذَاand what يَقُولُcan say الْقَائِلُونَthe speakers لِمَاجِدٍto a noble man
وَمَاذَا يَقُولُ الْقَائِلُونَ لِمَاجِدٍ
أَصِيلِdeep-rooted الْحِجىin wisdom فِيin لَفْظَةٍa word مِنْهُfrom him فَيْصَلُa decisive judgment
أَصِيلِ الْحِجى فِي لَفْظَةٍ مِنْهُ فَيْصَلُ
And what can speakers say to a noble man
of deep-rooted wisdom, whose single word is decisive?
Sol 6.1