كُنْbe مِنْagainst صُروفِthe turns of الرّدىdoom علىon حَذَرِguard
كُنْ مِنْ صُروفِ الرّدى على حَذَرِ
لاnot يَقْبَلُaccepts الدّهْرُtime عذْرَthe excuse of معتَذِرِone making excuses
لا يَقْبَلُ الدّهْرُ عذْرَ معتَذِرِ
Be on your guard against the turns of doom.
Be wary of the turns of fate,
Time accepts no excuse from one who pleads.
Time accepts no excuses from one making apologies.
ولاand do not تُعوِّلْrely فيهِin it علىon دَعَةٍease
ولا تُعوِّلْ فيهِ على دَعَةٍ
فأنتَfor you فيin قلْعةٍa precarious abode وفيand in سقَرِSaqar (Hell)
فأنتَ في قلْعةٍ وفي سقَرِ
And do not count on ease within it;
Do not rely on calm therein,
For you are in a precarious abode, and in Saqar.
For you are in a castle, and in Hellfire.
فكُلُّfor every رِيٍّquenching of thirst يفْضيleads الىto ظمإٍthirst
فكُلُّ رِيٍّ يفْضي الى ظمإٍ
وكُلُّand every أمْنٍsecurity يدْعوinvites الىto غَرَرِperil
وكُلُّ أمْنٍ يدْعو الى غَرَرِ
For every quenching ends in thirst,
Every stream leads to thirst,
And every security invites peril.
And every safety calls to delusions.
وكلُّand every حيٍّliving being فالموْتُthen death غايَتُهُits end
وكلُّ حيٍّ فالموْتُ غايَتُهُ
وكلُّand every نفْعٍbenefit يُدْنيbrings near الىto ضرَرِharm
وكلُّ نفْعٍ يُدْني الى ضرَرِ
And every living being has death as its end,
Every living being, death is its end,
And every benefit draws one near to harm.
And every benefit draws one nearer to harm.
كمْhow many شامِخِhigh-raised الأنْفِthe nose ينْثَنيsways فرَحاًjoyfully
كمْ شامِخِ الأنْفِ ينْثَني فرَحاً
بالَpissed عليْهِon him زمانُهُhis times وخَريand shat
بالَ عليْهِ زمانُهُ وخَري
How many a proud-nosed man, strutting in delight,
How many lofty noses does time humble!
Has been pissed and shat upon by his own times!
Without fault, yet time and fate oppress them!
قُلْsay للوَزيرِto the vizier البَليدِthe dull-witted قدalready ركَضَتْhas galloped
قُلْ للوَزيرِ البَليدِ قد ركَضَتْ
فيthrough ربْعِكَyour dwelling اليوْمَtoday غارَةُthe raid of الغِيَرِfortune's reversals
في ربْعِكَ اليوْمَ غارَةُ الغِيَرِ
Tell the dull-witted vizier: there has galloped
Say to the dim-witted minister: today
Into your dwelling today the raid of reversals.
The raids of the enemy galloped in your garden.
ياO ابْنَson of أبيAbu (father of) الفتْحِal-Fath (victory) نسْبَةٌa lineage عُكِسَتْwas reversed
يا ابْنَ أبي الفتْحِ نسْبَةٌ عُكِسَتْ
فَلاso not بفَتْحٍwith victory أتَتْit came ولاnor ظَفَرِtriumph
فَلا بفَتْحٍ أتَتْ ولا ظَفَرِ
O son of Abu al-Fath, a lineage turned upside down:
O son of Abu al-Fath, a lineage inverted!
For it brought neither victory nor triumph.
No conquest came from you, nor victory!
وِزارَةٌa vizierate لمْdid not يَجِدْfind مقَلِّدُهاthe one who conferred it
وِزارَةٌ لمْ يَجِدْ مقَلِّدُها
عنْfrom شُؤمِهاits ill omen فيin الوُجودِexistence منْany وَزَرِrefuge
عنْ شُؤمِها في الوُجودِ منْ وَزَرِ
A vizierate whose bestower found
A ministry which its holder could not find,
No refuge in existence from its ill omen.
From its ill fortune, any to share its burden.
فيunder طالِعِthe ascendant of النّحْسِill fortune حُزْتَyou gained رُتْبَتَهاits rank
في طالِعِ النّحْسِ حُزْتَ رُتْبَتَها
وكلُّand every شيءٍthing فيin قبْضَةِthe grasp of القَدَرِfate
وكلُّ شيءٍ في قبْضَةِ القَدَرِ
Under an unlucky ascendant you gained its rank,
In the ascendant of bad luck were you girded with its rank,
And everything lies in the grasp of fate.
All things in the grasp of destiny!
أيُّwhat اخْتبارٍa test لمْdid not يألُspare effort نصْبَتَهُits placement
أيُّ اخْتبارٍ لمْ يألُ نصْبَتَهُ
فيin جسَدٍbodily conjunction للنّحوسِwith the malefics أوor نظَرِan aspect
في جسَدٍ للنّحوسِ أو نظَرِ
What test spared no effort in setting it
What test did you not impose
In bodily conjunction with the malefics, or in aspect to them?
Upon a body cursed or an opinion?
باتَspent the night لهُfor it المُشتَريJupiter علىat غبَنٍa loss
باتَ لهُ المُشتَري على غبَنٍ
وأُحْرِقَتand was burned فيهِin it قُرْصَةُthe disk of القَمَرِthe moon
وأُحْرِقَت فيهِ قُرْصَةُ القَمَرِ
For it, Jupiter spent the night at a loss,
The buyer regrets the loss to him
And in it the moon's disk was burned.
And the cream is burnt away from the moon!
ياO طَلَلاًa ruin ماnot عليْهِupon it منْany عمَلٍwork
يا طَلَلاً ما عليْهِ منْ عمَلٍ
ياO شجَراًa tree ماnot لدَيْهِwith it منْany ثمَرِfruit
يا شجَراً ما لدَيْهِ منْ ثمَرِ
O ruin upon which no work is done,
O you who are fruitless, no deeds to your name!
O tree that bears no fruit!
O you barren tree, no fruits to claim!
ياO مُفْرِطَextreme in الجهْلِignorance والغَباوَةِand stupidity لاnot
يا مُفْرِطَ الجهْلِ والغَباوَةِ لا
يُحْسَبُis counted إلاexcept منْamong جُمْلَةِthe company of البَقَرِcattle
يُحْسَبُ إلا منْ جُمْلَةِ البَقَرِ
O you extreme in ignorance and stupidity, not
O prodigal of ignorance and folly! You are not reckoned
Counted except among the cattle!
Except among the cattle and beasts!
ياO دائِمَconstant in الحِقْدِrancor والفَظاظَةِand harshness لاnot
يا دائِمَ الحِقْدِ والفَظاظَةِ لا
يفَرِّقُdistinguishes بيْنَbetween ظالِمٍa wrongdoer وبَريand an innocent person
يفَرِّقُ بيْنَ ظالِمٍ وبَري
O you constant in rancor and harshness, who do not
O habitual harbinger of spite and vulgarity!
Distinguish the wrongdoer from the innocent!
Who distinguishes not between oppressor and innocent!
ياO كَمِدَdull in اللّوْنِcolor ينْطَفيfades out كمَداin anguish
يا كَمِدَ اللّوْنِ ينْطَفي كمَدا
منْfrom حسَدٍenvy يسْتَطيرُflares بالشّرَرِwith sparks
منْ حسَدٍ يسْتَطيرُ بالشّرَرِ
O dull-hued one, fading away in anguish
O camel-like of complexion, kindling
From envy that flares with sparks!
With envy afire with embers!
ياO عِدْلَthe counterpart of سَرْجٍa saddle ياO دنَّa cask مُقْتَعَدٍused as a seat
يا عِدْلَ سَرْجٍ يا دنَّ مُقْتَعَدٍ
مَلآنَfull منْof رِيبَةٍsuspicion ومنْand of قَذَرِfilth
مَلآنَ منْ رِيبَةٍ ومنْ قَذَرِ
O saddle's counterpart, O cask used as a seat,
O justice of a packed saddle, O base seated one
Brimming with suspicion and filth!
Filled with suspicion and filth!
ياO واصِلاًjoining للجَشاءِto belching ناشيَةَthe onset of الْthe (continued)
يا واصِلاً للجَشاءِ ناشيَةَ الْ
لَيْلِnight ورَبَّand lord of الضُّراطِfarting فيin السّحَرِthe predawn hours
لَيْلِ ورَبَّ الضُّراطِ في السّحَرِ
O you coupling belching with the onset of the
O one who travels to lewdness, roaming the night,
Night, and lord of farting before dawn!
With Lord of the hunt at dawn!
منfrom غَيْرlack of لُبٍّreason ولاnor مُراقَبةٍmindfulness
من غَيْر لُبٍّ ولا مُراقَبةٍ
للهِof God فيin موْرِدcoming ولاnor صَدَرِgoing
للهِ في موْرِد ولا صَدَرِ
With neither reason nor mindfulness
Without shame, no heeding of God,
Of God, in coming or going.
In manner or conscience!
ياO خامِلاًan obscure man جاهُهُhis prestige الفُروجُgenitals يَرىhe sees
يا خامِلاً جاهُهُ الفُروجُ يَرى
صِهْرَmarriage ties to أوليthose possessing الجاهِrank فخْرَthe pride of مُفْتَخِرِa boaster
صِهْرَ أولي الجاهِ فخْرَ مُفْتَخِرِ
O nonentity, whose standing comes from genitals, who regards
O one whose glory is dead, who sees
Marriage ties to those of rank as a boaster's pride,
The sons in law of notables as a pride to boast!
كانواthey were نَبيطاًNabataeans فيin الأصْلِorigin أوor حَبَشاًAbyssinians
كانوا نَبيطاً في الأصْلِ أو حَبَشاً
ماnot عِنْدَهُwith him عِبْرَةٌregard بمُعْتَبِرِfor one who takes heed
ما عِنْدَهُ عِبْرَةٌ بمُعْتَبِرِ
Whether they were Nabataeans by origin or Abyssinians—
They were originally Nabataean or Abyssinian,
He has no regard for anyone who takes heed.
No lesson for you in that, O unconsidering one!
ياO ناقِصَdeficient in الدّينِreligion والمُروءَةِand honor والْand the (continued)
يا ناقِصَ الدّينِ والمُروءَةِ والْ
عَقْلِreason ومُجْريand one who lets run اللّسانِthe tongue بالهَذَرِwith drivel
عَقْلِ ومُجْري اللّسانِ بالهَذَرِ
O you deficient in religion, honor, and
O you deficient in religion, chivalry, intellect,
Reason, who set your tongue running with drivel!
With a tongue that babbles nonsense!
ياO ولَدَchild of السَّحْقِtribadism غيرَnot مكْتَتَمٍconcealed
يا ولَدَ السَّحْقِ غيرَ مكْتَتَمٍ
حَديثُهُhis story ياO ابْنَson of فاسِدِruined in الدُّبُرِthe anus
حَديثُهُ يا ابْنَ فاسِدِ الدُّبُرِ
O child of tribadism, not concealed
O son of vileness, no veil drawn,
Is your story, O son of one with a ruined anus!
Your talk, O son of corrupt origin!
ياO بغْلَmule of طاحونَةٍa mill يَدورُcircles بِهاaround it
يا بغْلَ طاحونَةٍ يَدورُ بِها
مُجْتهِدَstrenuous in السّيْرِwalking مغْمَضَclosed in البَصَرِsight
مُجْتهِدَ السّيْرِ مغْمَضَ البَصَرِ
O mill-mule, circling round it,
O mule of a mill, spinning therein,
Toiling in your tread, with eyes shut!
The diligent traveler, eyes tightly shut!
فيin أشْهُرٍmonths عشْرَةٍten طحَنْتَهُمُyou ground them down
في أشْهُرٍ عشْرَةٍ طحَنْتَهُمُ
فَياso O رَحىmillstone of الشّؤمِill omen والبَوارِand ruin دُريturn!
فَيا رَحى الشّؤمِ والبَوارِ دُري
In ten months you ground them down;
In ten months you have ground them down,
So turn, O millstone of ill omen and ruin!
So O millstone of ill omen and ruin, turn!
واللهِby God ماnot كُنْتَyou were ياO مَشومُill-omened one ولاnor
واللهِ ما كُنْتَ يا مَشومُ ولا
أنْتَyou سِوىanything but عُرّةٍa disgrace منَamong العُرَرِdisgraces
أنْتَ سِوى عُرّةٍ منَ العُرَرِ
By God, you never were, O ill-omened one, nor
By God! You were no star, but
Are you anything but a disgrace among disgraces!
Only a monkey of monkeys!
ومَنْand who أبوAbu الفتْحِal-Fath فيamong الكِلابِthe dogs وهلْand does
ومَنْ أبو الفتْحِ في الكِلابِ وهلْ
لجاهِلٍfor an ignoramus فيin الأيّامِthe days منْany خطَرِstanding
لجاهِلٍ في الأيّامِ منْ خطَرِ
And who is Abu al-Fath among the dogs? And does
And who is Abu al-Fath among dogs? What
An ignoramus have any standing in the course of days?
Importance in days has an ignorant one?
قدalready ستَرَhas concealed الدّهْرُtime منْكَcaused by you عوْرَتَهُits shame
قد ستَرَ الدّهْرُ منْكَ عوْرَتَهُ
وكانَand it had been لليوْمِuntil today غيْرَnot مُسْتَتِرِconcealed
وكانَ لليوْمِ غيْرَ مُسْتَتِرِ
Time has concealed the shame you caused it;
Time concealed your shame from you,
And until today it had lain uncovered.
Though it leaves nothing concealed today!
حانوتُa shop of بَزٍّcloth يمْشيwalks علىon فَرَسٍa horse
حانوتُ بَزٍّ يمْشي على فَرَسٍ
وثَوْرُand a bull of عُرْسٍa wedding يخْتالُstruts فيin حِبَرِstriped robes
وثَوْرُ عُرْسٍ يخْتالُ في حِبَرِ
A cloth shop walking on horseback,
A grocer's stall walking on a horse
And a wedding bull strutting in striped robes!
While a bull of marriage promenades with ink!
لاno منّةٌstrength تُقْتَنىis acquired لمُعْتَرَكٍfor battle
لا منّةٌ تُقْتَنى لمُعْتَرَكٍ
ولاnor لِسانٌa tongue يُبينُspeaks clearly عنْabout خَبَرِnews
ولا لِسانٌ يُبينُ عنْ خَبَرِ
No strength worth possessing for battle,
No favor is gained by one who quarrels,
Nor a tongue that clearly conveys news;
No tongue makes clear any news.
ولاnor يَدٌa hand تَنْتَميbelongs الىto كَرَمٍgenerosity
ولا يَدٌ تَنْتَمي الى كَرَمٍ
ولاnor صَفاةٌa smooth rock يُريحُgives relief منْfrom كَدَرِturmoil
ولا صَفاةٌ يُريحُ منْ كَدَرِ
Nor a hand with any claim to generosity,
No hand aspires to generosity,
Nor a smooth rock that offers relief from turmoil.
No clarity comforts from gloom.
عهْديmy recollection بذاكَof that الجَبينِbrow قدْalready مُلِئَتْwere filled
عهْدي بذاكَ الجَبينِ قدْ مُلِئَتْ
غُصونُهُits branches الغُبْرُdust-gray بالدّمِwith blood الهَدَرِshed without redress
غُصونُهُ الغُبْرُ بالدّمِ الهَدَرِ
I recall that brow: already filled
My pact with that forehead - its branches
Were its dust-gray branches with blood shed unavenged.
Are filled with scattered, flowing blood!
عهْديmy recollection بذاكَof that القَفاnape الغليظِthe thick وقدْand already
عهْدي بذاكَ القَفا الغليظِ وقدْ
مُدَّwas stretched out لوقْعِfor the stroke of المهنّدِthe Indian-steel blade الذَّكَرِkeen
مُدَّ لوقْعِ المهنّدِ الذَّكَرِ
I recall that thick nape, when it had
My pact with that thick nape - it has
Been stretched out for the stroke of the keen Indian-steel blade.
Extended to the striking place of the executioner's sword!
أهْدَتْكَgave you as a gift للبَحْرِto the sea كفُّthe hand of مُنْتَقِمٍan avenger
أهْدَتْكَ للبَحْرِ كفُّ مُنْتَقِمٍ
ألْقَتْكَcast you للحوتِto the whale كفُّthe hand of مُقْتَدِرِa mighty one
ألْقَتْكَ للحوتِ كفُّ مُقْتَدِرِ
An avenger's hand made a gift of you to the sea;
A vengeful palm has cast you into the sea,
A mighty one's hand cast you to the whale.
A powerful palm has thrown you to the whale!
ياalas for يُتْمَthe orphaning of أولادِكَyour children الصّغارِthe little وياand alas for
يا يُتْمَ أولادِكَ الصّغارِ ويا
حيْرَتُهُمْtheir bewilderment بعْدَafter ذاكthat فيin الكِبَرِadulthood
حيْرَتُهُمْ بعْدَ ذاك في الكِبَرِ
Oh, the orphaning of your little children, and oh,
O bereavement of your little children, and their
Their bewilderment thereafter when grown!
Perplexity after that in maturity!
ياalas for ثُكْلَthe bereavement of تلكَthat الصّمّاءِdeaf woman أمِّهِمُtheir mother
يا ثُكْلَ تلكَ الصّمّاءِ أمِّهِمُ
وظاعِنُand the traveler of الموْتِdeath غيرُnot منتَظِرِwaiting
وظاعِنُ الموْتِ غيرُ منتَظِرِ
Oh, the bereavement of that deaf woman, their mother!
O sterility of their mother, deaf,
And death's departing traveler does not wait.
With death coming unawaited!
واللهِby God لاmay not نالَattain منْfrom تخلُّفِهِhis staying behind
واللهِ لا نالَ منْ تخلُّفِهِ
منْany أمَلٍhope بعْدَهاafter it ولاnor وَطَرِa desire fulfilled
منْ أمَلٍ بعْدَها ولا وَطَرِ
By God, may he gain nothing from his staying behind—
By God, from her loss came to them
No hope thereafter, nor any desire fulfilled!
No expectation afterward, nor comfort!
واللهِby God ياO مَسْخَفانُMaskhafan لاmay not انْتَقلَتْmove
واللهِ يا مَسْخَفانُ لا انْتَقلَتْ
رِجْلُكَyour foot منْهاfrom it إلاexcept الىto سقَرِSaqar (Hell)
رِجْلُكَ منْها إلا الى سقَرِ
By God, O Maskhafan, may you never move
By God, O contemptible man! Only your foot moved
Your foot from it except into Saqar!
From her to Hellfire!
ألحَقَكَmay He consign you اللهُGod بالهَوانِto humiliation ولاand not
ألحَقَكَ اللهُ بالهَوانِ ولا
رَعاكَprotect you فيمَنْin those whom تركْتَyou left منْof عُرَرِdisgraces
رَعاكَ فيمَنْ تركْتَ منْ عُرَرِ
May God consign you to humiliation, and never
May God afflict you with abasement and not
Protect, for your sake, the disgraces you left behind,
Pasture you among those you left from your flock!
ماas long as عُوقِبَis succeeded اللّيلُthe night بالصّباحِby morning وماand as long as
ما عُوقِبَ اللّيلُ بالصّباحِ وما
تقدّمَprecedes البَرْقُlightning عارِضَthe cloud bank of المطَرِrain
تقدّمَ البَرْقُ عارِضَ المطَرِ
As long as night is followed by morning, and as long as
Night is not punished with morning,
Lightning precedes the rain-bearing cloud.
Nor does lightning race the rain.
Sol 6.1