منْ عوضَ الصبرَ عما فاتَهُ ربِحا

منْ عوضَ الصبرَ عما فاتَهُ ربِحا

وكان خيراً من الممنوع ما منَحا

وكان خيراً من الممنوع ما منَحا

Whoever takes patience in exchange for what has passed him by has profited,

He who is rewarded with patience for what he missed

and what was granted was better than what was withheld.

And it was better than the forbidden he was granted

لا بدَّ للمرءِ مما قد أُتيح له

لا بدَّ للمرءِ مما قد أُتيح له

إن رفّهَ النفسَ في سعي وإِن كدَحا

إن رفّهَ النفسَ في سعي وإِن كدَحا

A man cannot escape what has been allotted to him,

A man must accept what was made available to him

whether he eases his soul in striving or toils.

Whether it brought ease or hardship in his pursuit

فخذ رويداً بها وارتع على ثقةٍ

فخذ رويداً بها وارتع على ثقةٍ

بالرزق واغنم من الأَعمال ما صلُحا

بالرزق واغنم من الأَعمال ما صلُحا

So go gently with it, and graze at ease, assured

So take it slowly with certainty

of provision; and gain from deeds whatever is righteous.

In sustenance from God, and gain from good deeds what improves you

ولا تقولوا بأَن الحرص يوجبهُ

ولا تقولوا بأَن الحرص يوجبهُ

ولا أَقول بأن السعي مَطّرحا

ولا أَقول بأن السعي مَطّرحا

And do not say that eagerness guarantees it,

And do not say greed requires it

nor do I say that effort is to be discarded.

Nor say seeking is futile

بل اجملوا طلباً لا بدّ من سببٍ

بل اجملوا طلباً لا بدّ من سببٍ

ينجي الغريق ولكن بعدَ ما سبحا

ينجي الغريق ولكن بعدَ ما سبحا

Rather, seek with moderation: there must be a means

But combine seeking with an unavoidable cause

that saves the drowning man—but only after he has swum.

That saves the drowning, even after he swam

والمرءُ يمشي مع الأَقدار حيثُ مشت

والمرءُ يمشي مع الأَقدار حيثُ مشت

مع اختيارٍ يميز الحُسنَ والقبحا

مع اختيارٍ يميز الحُسنَ والقبحا

And man walks with destiny wherever it goes,

And man walks with fate wherever it went

with choice that distinguishes the good from the ugly.

With choice to distinguish good from evil

وقدرةُ الله للأسباب لازمةٌ

وقدرةُ الله للأسباب لازمةٌ

كما تلازم روح الآدمي الشبحا

كما تلازم روح الآدمي الشبحا

And God's power is inseparable from causes,

And God's will is inherent in causes

as the human soul is inseparable from the bodily form.

As the spirit's attachment to the human body

ما سنبلت حنطةٌ إلاّ بمزرعةٍ

ما سنبلت حنطةٌ إلاّ بمزرعةٍ

ولا رجي ولدٌ إلاَّ لمن نكحا

ولا رجي ولدٌ إلاَّ لمن نكحا

No wheat puts forth ears except in a cultivated field,

No wheat grew but in a cultivated field

nor is a child hoped for except for one who has married.

No child was hoped for but by one married

ما بين رقدةِ عينٍ وانتباهتها

ما بين رقدةِ عينٍ وانتباهتها

لطفٌ من الله يدني منك ما نَزحا

لطفٌ من الله يدني منك ما نَزحا

Between an eye's slumber and its awakening

Between the blinking of an eye and its opening

is kindness from God that brings near you what was distant.

A subtlety from God draws near what receded

لا تيأسنَّ فما حالٌ بدائمةٍ

لا تيأسنَّ فما حالٌ بدائمةٍ

لو قلتَ للشرِّ لا تبرح ودم بِرَحا

لو قلتَ للشرِّ لا تبرح ودم بِرَحا

Never despair, for no condition is lasting;

Do not despair, no state is permanent

even if you told evil, 'Do not depart; remain,' it would depart.

If you told evil, "Do not budge," it will recede

كم كربةٍ ضاقٌ منها المرءُ فانفرجت

كم كربةٍ ضاقٌ منها المرءُ فانفرجت

عنهُ وأصبح مسروراً بها فرحا

عنهُ وأصبح مسروراً بها فرحا

How many a distress has oppressed a man, then lifted

How many stresses straitened a man, then relief

from him, leaving him pleased with it and joyful.

Came to him, and he awoke happy with it, joyed

والدهرُ يومان فاشربه كذا وكذا

والدهرُ يومان فاشربه كذا وكذا

اشربه مهما حلا واشربه إن مَلحا

اشربه مهما حلا واشربه إن مَلحا

Time has two days, so drink it, this way and that;

Time has two days, so drink it thus and thus

drink it whenever it is sweet, and drink it if it is salty.

Drink it whatever comes and drink it if bitter

واصبر لما بك فالأَيامُ راجِعةٌ

واصبر لما بك فالأَيامُ راجِعةٌ

سيجعلُ اللهُ بعد الترحةِ الفَرجا

سيجعلُ اللهُ بعد الترحةِ الفَرجا

And bear patiently what afflicts you, for the days come round again;

And be patient with what makes you cry, days will return

God will bring relief after sorrow.

God will make relief after distress

لا تطلبِ الشييء الاّ في مظنَّتِهِ

لا تطلبِ الشييء الاّ في مظنَّتِهِ

فمن يوفق لها لم يعدم النَجحا

فمن يوفق لها لم يعدم النَجحا

Seek a thing only where it is likely to be found;

Seek nothing but in its likelihood

whoever is guided there will not lack success.

Whoever attains it will not miss success

وللمآرب أَوقاتٌ تنالُ بها

وللمآرب أَوقاتٌ تنالُ بها

لا يدخلُ الباب إلاّ بعد ما فُتحا

لا يدخلُ الباب إلاّ بعد ما فُتحا

And aims have times when they are attained;

And endeavors have times through which they are attained

a door is entered only after it has been opened.

No door is entered but after opened

غداً يسُّرك ما تمسي تساء به

غداً يسُّرك ما تمسي تساء به

وينجلي الشكُّ بالحق الذي اتّضحا

وينجلي الشكُّ بالحق الذي اتّضحا

Tomorrow what saddens you this evening will delight you,

Tomorrow will please you what you loathe tonight

and doubt will clear away before the truth made plain.

Doubt will clear with truth made obvious

ويعلمُ الملكُ المنصورُ ما بخست

ويعلمُ الملكُ المنصورُ ما بخست

حقّي الحظوظُ وينهاها فَتصِطلحا

حقّي الحظوظُ وينهاها فَتصِطلحا

And King al-Mansur will know how

The victorious king knows what fate denied me

fortunes have shortchanged my due; he will restrain them, and they will make peace.

And stops it, so we reconcile

قد كان لي ذمةٌ منهُ على زمني

قد كان لي ذمةٌ منهُ على زمني

فما لدهري عليَّ اليومَ قد جمعا

فما لدهري عليَّ اليومَ قد جمعا

I had his pledge of protection against my time;

I had a pact with him in my time

so why has my time rallied against me today?

So my fate today has not gathered against me

وكلتُموني إلى خلِّ فضيّعني

وكلتُموني إلى خلِّ فضيّعني

حفظاً لكم وهو جدٌّ يشبهُ المِزحا

حفظاً لكم وهو جدٌّ يشبهُ المِزحا

You entrusted me to a friend, and he neglected me,

You blamed me to carelessness, so I wasted away

out of regard for you—a serious matter that resembles jest.

To protect you, which is a serious jest

رضيتُ عنك بما تعطي وعنه بما

رضيتُ عنك بما تعطي وعنه بما

لم يعطنيهِ لعلمي أَنه نَصحا

لم يعطنيهِ لعلمي أَنه نَصحا

I am content with you for what you give, and with him for what

I accepted your gift and his not giving

he did not give me, knowing that he meant well.

Knowing he advised, though not giving

وما ألوم سوى حظٍّ يريدُ به

وما ألوم سوى حظٍّ يريدُ به

نقصانَ وفري إذا فضلي به رَجَحا

نقصانَ وفري إذا فضلي به رَجَحا

And I blame only fortune, which seeks through him

I blame none but a fate wanting thereby

to diminish my wealth, even as my merit gains weight through him.

Less for me, surplus if favoring me

لقد وطى عنقَ العليا وتمَّ له

لقد وطى عنقَ العليا وتمَّ له

على الليالي بحمد الله ما اقتراحا

على الليالي بحمد الله ما اقتراحا

He has indeed trodden on the neck of lofty glory; for him was fulfilled

It brought down the lofty neck, and nights past

through the nights, praise be to God, what he wished.

Praised God it was suggested

وامدحهُ لا مدّعٍ وصفاً يناسبُهُ

وامدحهُ لا مدّعٍ وصفاً يناسبُهُ

من ادّعى فوقَ ما في وسعه افتُضِحا

من ادّعى فوقَ ما في وسعه افتُضِحا

And I praise him without claiming that my description befits him;

I praise him, no pretender describing one befitting him

whoever claims beyond his power is exposed.

One pretends beyond their capacity, shamed

وسل صارم سعدٍ ليس يشبهُهُ

وسل صارم سعدٍ ليس يشبهُهُ

سيفُ امرئ سافَ أَو رمح امرئ رمحا

سيفُ امرئ سافَ أَو رمح امرئ رمحا

And he has drawn a keen blade of good fortune, unmatched

No sword of a drawn sword resembles

by any swordsman's sword or any spearman's spear.

The sword of Sa'd, nor spear of a throwing spear

كَملتَ حتى تمنّى فيك ذو شغفٍ

كَملتَ حتى تمنّى فيك ذو شغفٍ

عيباً تعاذَ به مِن عين مَن لمحا

عيباً تعاذَ به مِن عين مَن لمحا

You have attained such perfection that one devoted to you wished

You perfected until one passionately in you

for a flaw to shield you from the eye of anyone who glances.

Wished a fault to ward off the evil eye that glanced

ملأتَ حبًّا قلوبَ الخلق قاطبةً

ملأتَ حبًّا قلوبَ الخلق قاطبةً

جوداً وعفواً على من ساء أَو صلحا

جوداً وعفواً على من ساء أَو صلحا

You filled the hearts of all creation with love,

You filled all hearts with love entire

through generosity and pardon toward whoever did ill or good.

With generosity and pardon for good or evil

والرعبُ قد ملأ الأَحشا فكُلهُمُ

والرعبُ قد ملأ الأَحشا فكُلهُمُ

يرى حسامَك لا يؤسي إِذا جرحا

يرى حسامَك لا يؤسي إِذا جرحا

And terror has filled their entrails, so each of them

And fear has filled the vales, all of them

sees your keen sword, whose wounds admit no cure.

See your sword and are not bold if it gashes

فقل لهم وسيوفُ الموتِ مغمدةٌ

فقل لهم وسيوفُ الموتِ مغمدةٌ

وحرُّ وقدةِ نارِ الحرب مالفحا

وحرُّ وقدةِ نارِ الحرب مالفحا

So tell them, while the swords of death are sheathed

So say, with death's swords sheathed

and the heat of war's blazing fire has not yet scorched them:

And war fire's blaze calmed

خلّوا عن الهمَم العُليا لباعِثها

خلّوا عن الهمَم العُليا لباعِثها

تلقون عن سكراتِ الموتِ مُنِتدحا

تلقون عن سكراتِ الموتِ مُنِتدحا

Leave lofty ambitions to the one who rouses them—

Leave the high ambitions to their rouser

you will find escape from the agonies of death—

You meet praised for the intoxication of death

لنجل أَحمدَ عبداللهِ وأدّرعوا

لنجل أَحمدَ عبداللهِ وأدّرعوا

ثوبَ الخمولِ اضطراراً واهجروا المرحا

ثوبَ الخمولِ اضطراراً واهجروا المرحا

to Ahmad's son, Abdullah; and don as armor

For Ahmad Abdallah's son, dress

the robe of obscurity under compulsion, and abandon swagger.

The robe of resignation, and leave frivolity

حبُّ الإِلَهِ وحبُّ الله أَعَقبهُ

حبُّ الإِلَهِ وحبُّ الله أَعَقبهُ

بأَن ما انسدَّ واستدعى به إنفتحا

بأَن ما انسدَّ واستدعى به إنفتحا

He is the Divine's beloved, and God's love has rewarded him

God's love and love of God followed with

with this: whatever was shut opened when sought through him.

What was blocked being called to open

من كان في عنوهِ الباري فخاذَلهُ

من كان في عنوهِ الباري فخاذَلهُ

نعدّهُ وهو حي بعضَ من ذُبحا

نعدّهُ وهو حي بعضَ من ذُبحا

Whoever has the Creator aiding him—one who forsakes him

Whoever God protected in His care

we count, though still alive, among the slaughtered.

We count them living though slain

غظتَ العدوَّ وأَرضيت المحبَّ بما

غظتَ العدوَّ وأَرضيت المحبَّ بما

تسدي ولم تخجلِ المثني الذي مَدحا

تسدي ولم تخجلِ المثني الذي مَدحا

You have enraged the enemy and pleased the admirer with what

You vexed the enemy and pleased the loved one with what

you bestow, and have not shamed the eulogist who praised you.

You give and were not shy of the one praising

أَفلحتَ يا حزبَ ربِّ العالمين ومَنْ

أَفلحتَ يا حزبَ ربِّ العالمين ومَنْ

في حزبه كانَ نالَ الفوزَ والفَلَحا

في حزبه كانَ نالَ الفوزَ والفَلَحا

You have prospered, O party of the Lord of the worlds; and whoever

You succeeded, O party of the Lord of the worlds, and whoever

belongs to His party has attained victory and success.

Was in His party attained success and prosperity

إِذا نزلتَ بهذا الجيش معتمداً

إِذا نزلتَ بهذا الجيش معتمداً

قوماً فساء صباحاً منذر صبحا

قوماً فساء صباحاً منذر صبحا

When you descend with this army, making for

When you descend with this army relying

a people, grim is the morning of the forewarned man attacked at dawn.

On men, the morning of one threatening dawned

فأَنتَ ماضٍ بعونِ اللهِ مشتملٌ

فأَنتَ ماضٍ بعونِ اللهِ مشتملٌ

بذمةِ الله مستغنٍ بما مُنحا

بذمةِ الله مستغنٍ بما مُنحا

For you march on with God's aid, enfolded

You go on with God's help united

in God's protection, needing nothing beyond what you have been granted.

In God's protection, self-sufficient in what you were given