إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle الأَمرَدُthe beardless youth المَصقولُthe smooth-faced جاءَتcame
إِذا ما الأَمرَدُ المَصقولُ جاءَت
عَوارِضُهُhis side-whiskers فَنَقصٌthen a loss فيin اِزدِيادِincrease
عَوارِضُهُ فَنَقصٌ في اِزدِيادِ
When to the smooth-faced, beardless youth come
When the polished sword's edge grows blunt
his side-whiskers—a loss amid increase—
Its cutting power diminishes.
يَموتُhe dies المَوتَةَthe death الأُولىfirst فَتُمسيand come to be
يَموتُ المَوتَةَ الأُولى فَتُمسي
عَلىupon خَدَّيهِhis two cheeks أَثوابُrobes الحِدادِmourning
عَلى خَدَّيهِ أَثوابُ الحِدادِ
he dies his first death, and there come to be
It dies a first death, then spends the night
upon his cheeks the robes of mourning.
Wrapped in mourning clothes upon its cheeks.
وَهَلand does يَستَحسِنُfind pleasing الإِنسانُa person رَوضاًa garden
وَهَل يَستَحسِنُ الإِنسانُ رَوضاً
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle حَلَّهُsettled in it شَوكُthorns القَتادِthe qatād thornbush
إِذا ما حَلَّهُ شَوكُ القَتادِ
And does anyone find a garden fair
What mortal man would favor a garden
when the thorns of qatād have settled in it?
Infested with prickly brambles' thorns?
Sol 6.1