مَوْلاَيَmy lord يَاO خَيْرَbest of مُلُوكِthe kings of الْوَرَىhumankind
مَوْلاَيَ يَا خَيْرَ مُلُوكِ الْوَرَى
وَنُخْبَةَand the choicest of النَّصْرِvictory وَأَرْبَابِهِand its lords
وَنُخْبَةَ النَّصْرِ وَأَرْبَابِهِ
My lord, O best of humankind's kings,
and the elect of victory and its lords,
قُمْتَyou took charge بِأَمْرِof an undertaking أَنْتَyou أَهْلٌworthy لَهُof it
قُمْتَ بِأَمْرِ أَنْتَ أَهْلٌ لَهُ
فَلْتَأَتِso come to هَذَاthis الأمْرَundertaking مِنْfrom بَابهِits door
فَلْتَأَتِ هَذَا الأمْرَ مِنْ بَابهِ
You have undertaken a task you are fit for;
so approach this undertaking through its door.
لاَdo not تُدْنِbring near مِنْto بَابِكَyour door شَخْصاًa person يَرَىwho believes
لاَ تُدْنِ مِنْ بَابِكَ شَخْصاً يَرَى
بأَنَّهُthat he فِيamong النَّاسِthe people أَوْلَىmore entitled بِهِto it
بأَنَّهُ فِي النَّاسِ أَوْلَى بِهِ
Do not bring near your door a person who believes
that, among the people, he has a greater claim to it,
وَعِنْدَهُand he has مَالٌwealth وَمِنْand from خَلْفِهِbehind him
وَعِنْدَهُ مَالٌ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ
أيْدٍhands تَعَلَّقْنَhave clung بِأَهْدَابِهِto his fringes
أيْدٍ تَعَلَّقْنَ بِأَهْدَابِهِ
and has wealth, and behind him
hands that have clung to his fringes.
لاَnot سِيَّمَاthe like of مَنْone whose دَخَلتْhas gone inward أُذْنُهُhis ear
لاَ سِيَّمَا مَنْ دَخَلتْ أُذْنُهُ
وَانْتَفَخَتْand has swollen مِنْfrom تَحْتِbeneath أَثْوَابِهِhis garments
وَانْتَفَخَتْ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَثْوَابِهِ
Especially one whose ear has gone inward
and swelled beneath his garments,
وَخَافَand was afraid مِنْهُof him الْمُلْكُthe kingdom فِيمَاin what مَضَىhad passed
وَخَافَ مِنْهُ الْمُلْكُ فِيمَا مَضَى
وَكَانْand was يَنْويِintending قَطْعَto sever أَسْبَابِهِhis ties
وَكَانْ يَنْويِ قَطْعَ أَسْبَابِهِ
and whom the kingdom feared in times past,
and intended to sever his ties.
قَدْindeed أَفْسدتُI have corrupted أَقْوَالَthe sayings of كُهَانِهِhis soothsayers
قَدْ أَفْسدتُ أَقْوَالَ كُهَانِهِ
فِكَرتَهُhis thinking اليومtoday محسبهِhis reckoning (uncertain reading)
فِكَرتَهُ اليوم محسبهِ
I have indeed corrupted his soothsayers' sayings;
his thinking today—his reckoning [wording unclear].
يَنْظُرُhe looks فِيin الْمِرْآةِthe mirror مِنْfrom وَجْههِhis face
يَنْظُرُ فِي الْمِرْآةِ مِنْ وَجْههِ
بَيْنَamong مَوَالِيهِhis followers وَأَحْزَابِهِand his factions
بَيْنَ مَوَالِيهِ وَأَحْزَابِهِ
He sees in the mirror, in his own face,
among his followers and his factions,
عَرُوسَa bride of مُلْكٍkingship طَالَمَاfor a long time أُعْمِلَتْwere put to work
عَرُوسَ مُلْكٍ طَالَمَا أُعْمِلَتْ
فِيin عَقْدِهِits marriage bond أَرْجُلُthe feet of خُطَّابِهِits suitors
فِي عَقْدِهِ أَرْجُلُ خُطَّابِهِ
a bride of kingship; long have labored
its suitors' feet in binding its marriage.
فَهَمُّهُso his concern اْستِبْدَالُreplacing قُوَّادِهِhis commanders
فَهَمُّهُ اْستِبْدَالُ قُوَّادِهِ
وَفِكْرُهُand his thought اسْتِنْخَابُselecting كُتَّابِهِhis scribes
وَفِكْرُهُ اسْتِنْخَابُ كُتَّابِهِ
So his concern is replacing his commanders,
and his thought is choosing his scribes.
إِنْif نَامَhe sleeps كَانَتْshe is حُلْمَthe dream of أَفْكَارِهِhis thoughts
إِنْ نَامَ كَانَتْ حُلْمَ أَفْكَارِهِ
أَوْor قَامَhe rises كَانَتْshe is نُصْبَthe idol of مِحْرَابِهِhis prayer niche
أَوْ قَامَ كَانَتْ نُصْبَ مِحْرَابِهِ
If he sleeps, she is the dream of his thoughts;
or if he rises, she is the idol of his prayer niche.
يَنْقُدُكَhe pays you الْغِيبَةَbackbiting مَهْمَاwhenever خَلاhe is in private
يَنْقُدُكَ الْغِيبَةَ مَهْمَا خَلا
مَاwhat is بَيْنَbetween أَهْلِيهِhis family وَأَصْحَابِهِand his companions
مَا بَيْنَ أَهْلِيهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ
He pays you in backbiting whenever in private
among his family and his companions,
وَيَجْذُبُand he draws الْجُنْدَthe troops إِلَىto نَفْسِهِhimself
وَيَجْذُبُ الْجُنْدَ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ
بِخَادِعِwith deceitful الْقَوْلِspeech وَخَلاَّبِهِand its beguiling charm
بِخَادِعِ الْقَوْلِ وَخَلاَّبِهِ
and draws the troops to himself
with deceitful speech and its beguiling charm.
كَانَit would be بِهِwith him إِنْif لَمْnot تَكُنْyou are حَازِماًresolute
كَانَ بِهِ إِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ حَازِماً
وَالْوَفْدُand the delegation يَبْغِيseeks إِذْنَpermission from حُجَّابِهِhis chamberlains
وَالْوَفْدُ يَبْغِي إِذْنَ حُجَّابِهِ
It would be his, unless you are resolute,
while the delegation seeks his chamberlains' leave.
وَالآنَand now قَدْindeed هَابَكَhe fears you فَاحْذَرْso beware فَمَاfor not
وَالآنَ قَدْ هَابَكَ فَاحْذَرْ فَمَا
يَبْدَأinitiates فَتْكاًa murderous ambush غَيْرُexcept هَيَّابِهِone who fears him
يَبْدَأ فَتْكاً غَيْرُ هَيَّابِهِ
And now he fears you; beware, for none
starts a murderous ambush but one who fears him.
وَقَاطِعُand the destroyer of الدَّوْلَةِthe dynasty مُسْتَقْبِلٌis approaching
وَقَاطِعُ الدَّوْلَةِ مُسْتَقْبِلٌ
فَلْتَسْتَعِذْso seek refuge مِنْfrom شَرِّthe evil of أَوْصَابِهِits afflictions
فَلْتَسْتَعِذْ مِنْ شَرِّ أَوْصَابِهِ
And the dynasty's destroyer is approaching;
so seek refuge from the evil of its afflictions.
وَاللهُand God يَكْفِيكَspares you شُرُورَthe evils of الْعِدَىthe foes
وَاللهُ يَكْفِيكَ شُرُورَ الْعِدَى
لاnot يَسْتَعِينُseeks help الْعبْدُthe servant إلاَّexcept بِهِfrom Him
لا يَسْتَعِينُ الْعبْدُ إلاَّ بِهِ
And God will spare you your foes' evils;
the servant seeks help only from Him.
وَالْمُلْكُand kingship لَمْnot يُقْصَرْwas confined عَلَىto أًمَّةٍa people
وَالْمُلْكُ لَمْ يُقْصَرْ عَلَى أًمَّةٍ
وَإِنَّمَاand only الْمُلْكُkingship لِغُلاَّبِهِfor its conquerors
وَإِنَّمَا الْمُلْكُ لِغُلاَّبِهِ
And kingship has not been confined to one people;
and kingship belongs only to its conquerors.
هَذَاhere is ابْنُthe son of هُودٍHud بَعْدَafter إِرْثِinheriting الْعُلَىglory
هَذَا ابْنُ هُودٍ بَعْدَ إِرْثِ الْعُلَى
فَازَwon بَنُوthe sons of نَصْرNasr بِأَسْلاَبِهِwith his spoils
فَازَ بَنُو نَصْر بِأَسْلاَبِهِ
Here is Ibn Hud, after inheriting glory:
Banu Nasr carried off his spoils.
لاَnot يَسْتَلِذُّtakes pleasure in الْعَيْشَlife لَيْثُthe lion of الشَّرَىal-Shara
لاَ يَسْتَلِذُّ الْعَيْشَ لَيْثُ الشَّرَى
حَتَّىuntil يَذْودَhe drives away الأسْدَthe lions عَنْfrom غابِهِhis thicket
حَتَّى يَذْودَ الأسْدَ عَنْ غابِهِ
The lion of al-Shara takes no pleasure in life
until he drives the lions from his thicket.
وَإِنْand if أَضَعْتَyou squander الْحَزْمَresolve لَمْnot تَنْفَلِتْyou escape
وَإِنْ أَضَعْتَ الْحَزْمَ لَمْ تَنْفَلِتْ
مِنْfrom ظُفُرthe claw of الْحَيْنِdeath وَمِنْand from نَابِهِits fang
مِنْ ظُفُر الْحَيْنِ وَمِنْ نَابِهِ
And if you squander resolve, you will not escape
from death's claw and from its fang.
لاَdo not تَتَّهِمْنِيsuspect me إِنَّنِيindeed I am مُمْتَلٍfull
لاَ تَتَّهِمْنِي إِنَّنِي مُمْتَلٍ
مِنْof حِكَمِthe maxims of الْمُلْكِkingship وَآدَابِهِand its etiquette
مِنْ حِكَمِ الْمُلْكِ وَآدَابِهِ
Do not suspect me; I am full
of the maxims of kingship and its etiquette.
وَعَقْلَكَand your reason الْمَوْهُوبَbestowed حَكِّمْهُmake it judge فِيin
وَعَقْلَكَ الْمَوْهُوبَ حَكِّمْهُ فِي
الأَحْوَالِaffairs وَاشْكُرْand give thanks for فَضْلَthe bounty of وَهَّابِهِits Giver
الأَحْوَالِ وَاشْكُرْ فَضْلَ وَهَّابِهِ
And make your gifted reason the judge in
affairs, and give thanks for the bounty of its Giver.
وَكُلُّand everyone مَنْwhom أَدْلَلْتَهُyou indulged him قَبْلَهَاbefore it
وَكُلُّ مَنْ أَدْلَلْتَهُ قَبْلَهَا
عَلِّمْهُteach him بِالْمُلْكِabout kingship وَأَلْقَابِهِand its titles
عَلِّمْهُ بِالْمُلْكِ وَأَلْقَابِهِ
And everyone you indulged before your reign—
teach him about kingship and its titles.
لَمْnot يُرَwas seen مَلْكٌa king فِيin زَمَانٍan age خَلاَgone by
لَمْ يُرَ مَلْكٌ فِي زَمَانٍ خَلاَ
قَامَwas upheld لَهُfor him رَسْمٌa protocol بِأَتْرَابِهِby his peers
قَامَ لَهُ رَسْمٌ بِأَتْرَابِهِ
No king was seen in any bygone age
whose royal protocol was upheld by his peers.
مَنْwhoever قُلْتَyou said يَاO عَمِّuncle لَهُto him مَرَّةًonce
مَنْ قُلْتَ يَا عَمِّ لَهُ مَرَّةً
ثِقْbe sure بِتَعَاطِيهِof his presumption وَإِعْجَابِهِand his conceit
ثِقْ بِتَعَاطِيهِ وَإِعْجَابِهِ
Whoever you once called 'Uncle,'
count on his presumption and his conceit.
أَوْor سَيِّديmy lord دَامَhe keeps يَرَىregarding سَيِّدِيmy lord
أَوْ سَيِّدي دَامَ يَرَى سَيِّدِي
حَقّاًa right لَهُfor him قُمْتَyou undertook بِإيجَابِهِto make it binding
حَقّاً لَهُ قُمْتَ بِإيجَابِهِ
Or 'My lord'—he will always regard 'my lord'
as a right of his that you have made binding.
وَابْسُطْand spread عَلَىover الْخَلَقِthe people مِنَof الْعَدْلِjustice مَاthat which
وَابْسُطْ عَلَى الْخَلَقِ مِنَ الْعَدْلِ مَا
يَسْتَتِرُtake shelter الْخَلْقُthe people بِجِلْبَابِهِin its cloak
يَسْتَتِرُ الْخَلْقُ بِجِلْبَابِهِ
And spread over the people such justice
that the people may shelter beneath its cloak.
وَأَحْكِمِand make firm السِّلْمَpeace لَهُمْfor them عَاقِداًtying
وَأَحْكِمِ السِّلْمَ لَهُمْ عَاقِداً
عُقْدَةَthe knot of غِرٍّa guileless one ظَاهِرٍvisible نَابِهِhis fang
عُقْدَةَ غِرٍّ ظَاهِرٍ نَابِهِ
And make peace firm for them, tying
the knot of a guileless one whose fang is showing.
وَمَهِّدِand consolidate السُّلْطَانَsovereignty فِعْلَin the manner of امْرِىءٍa man
وَمَهِّدِ السُّلْطَانَ فِعْلَ امْرِىءٍ
يُخَلِّفُbequeaths الْمُلْكَkingship لأَعْقَابِهِto his descendants
يُخَلِّفُ الْمُلْكَ لأَعْقَابِهِ
And consolidate sovereignty as would a man
who bequeaths kingship to his descendants.
وَبَعْدَand after فَرْضِthe duty of الْحَجِّpilgrimage لاَبُدَّit is indispensable لِيfor me
وَبَعْدَ فَرْضِ الْحَجِّ لاَبُدَّ لِي
مِنْof دَارِthe house of مَوْلاَيَmy lord وَمِنْand of بَابِهِhis door
مِنْ دَارِ مَوْلاَيَ وَمِنْ بَابِهِ
And after the duty of pilgrimage, I cannot do without
my lord's house and his door.
Sol 6.1