وَافىarrived الْحَدِيثُthe news إِلَىto غَرِيبِone far from الدَّارِhome
وَافى الْحَدِيثُ إِلَى غَرِيبِ الدَّارِ
عَنْabout ليْلَةٍa night مَرَّتْthat passed وَمَاand not هُوَhe دَارِaware
عَنْ ليْلَةٍ مَرَّتْ وَمَا هُوَ دَارِ
The news reached one far from home,
Of a night that passed without his knowing.
أَحْيَيْتُمُوهَاyou kept it alive وَالْحَيَاةُand life أُحَبُّهاits dearest part
أَحْيَيْتُمُوهَا وَالْحَيَاةُ أُحَبُّها
وَقْتٌtime قَتِيلٌslain فِيover قَتِيلِslain عُقارِwine
وَقْتٌ قَتِيلٌ فِي قَتِيلِ عُقارِ
You kept it alive; and life at its dearest
Is time slain over slain wine.
أَنْتُمْyou وَأُسْرَتكمْand your family هُناكthere بِغِبْطَةٍin bliss
أَنْتُمْ وَأُسْرَتكمْ هُناك بِغِبْطَةٍ
وَأَنَاand I بِحُرْمَانin deprivation هُنَاhere وَإِسَارِand captivity
وَأَنَا بِحُرْمَان هُنَا وَإِسَارِ
You and your family are there in bliss,
While I am here in deprivation and captivity.
لَكُمُfor you المِتَاعُthe enjoyment بِكلِّof every شَيءٍthing طيِّبٍgood
لَكُمُ المِتَاعُ بِكلِّ شَيءٍ طيِّبٍ
وَلِيَand for me الْمِتَاعُthe enjoyment بِطَيِّبof pleasant الأَخْبَارِnews
وَلِيَ الْمِتَاعُ بِطَيِّب الأَخْبَارِ
Yours is the enjoyment of every good thing,
And mine the enjoyment of pleasant news.
غَنَّىsang جَمِيلٌJamil بَالِغاًreaching غايَاتِهِhis highest goals
غَنَّى جَمِيلٌ بَالِغاً غايَاتِهِ
فِيin الفنِّart حَتَّىuntil كانَit was فَجْرُthe dawn of نَهَارِday
فِي الفنِّ حَتَّى كانَ فَجْرُ نَهَارِ
Jamil sang, reaching his highest goals
In art, until daybreak came.
وَأَجَادَand excelled سَامٍSami مَاin what أَرَادَhe intended مُحَرَّكاًstirring
وَأَجَادَ سَامٍ مَا أَرَادَ مُحَرَّكاً
قَلْبَthe heart of الدَّجَىthe dark night بِعَوَامِلِthrough the workings of الأَوتارِthe strings
قَلْبَ الدَّجَى بِعَوَامِلِ الأَوتارِ
And Sami excelled in all he attempted, stirring
The heart of night with the power of the strings.
قُتِلَwas slain الخَرُوفُthe lamb وَلَمْand not يُحَلَّلْwas sanctioned قَتْلُهُits killing
قُتِلَ الخَرُوفُ وَلَمْ يُحَلَّلْ قَتْلُهُ
فِيin غَيْبَتِيmy absence سَتَرَوُنَyou will see أَخْذَthe taking of الثَّارِrevenge
فِي غَيْبَتِي سَتَرَوُنَ أَخْذَ الثَّارِ
The lamb was slain, though its killing was not sanctioned
In my absence; you will see revenge taken.
خَطْبٌa calamity جَلِيلٌgrave فِيamong الذبَائِحِslaughters لاَnot تَفِيsuffice
خَطْبٌ جَلِيلٌ فِي الذبَائِحِ لاَ تَفِي
لِتُقِيدَto exact retribution مِنْهُfor it جَلاَئِلُthe gravest الأَوْتَارِblood-debts
لِتُقِيدَ مِنْهُ جَلاَئِلُ الأَوْتَارِ
A grave calamity among slaughters: insufficient
To exact its requital are the gravest blood-debts.
عَبْدُAbd الْمَسِيحِal-Masih وَنَخْلَةٌand Nakhla رَاعَاboth startled بِهِwith it
عَبْدُ الْمَسِيحِ وَنَخْلَةٌ رَاعَا بِهِ
سَمَعِيmy hearing وَمَاand not لَطُفاwere they gentle لدَىwhen الإِشْعَارِgiving the news
سَمَعِي وَمَا لَطُفا لدَى الإِشْعَارِ
Abd al-Masih and Nakhla startled with it
My hearing, and were not gentle in breaking the news.
فَلِذَاكَso for that بِتُّI passed the night وَفِيand in ضَمِيرِيmy heart نِيَّةٌa plan
فَلِذَاكَ بِتُّ وَفِي ضَمِيرِي نِيَّةٌ
لَكُمُfor you سَتُمْسِيwill become أَفْكَهَthe most delightful الأَسْمَارِevening tales
لَكُمُ سَتُمْسِي أَفْكَهَ الأَسْمَارِ
So I passed the night with a plan in my heart
For you, to become the most delightful of evening tales.
صَحِّحcorrect it فَقَوْلِيfor my words are أَفْكَهْthe most delightful الأَسْمَارِevening tales لاَdo not
صَحِّح فَقَوْلِي أَفْكَهْ الأَسْمَارِ لاَ
تَغْلَطْerr فَتَقْرَأْand so read أَفْكَهَthe most delightful الأَثْمَارِfruits
تَغْلَطْ فَتَقْرَأْ أَفْكَهَ الأَثْمَارِ
Mind the wording: I say 'most delightful evening tales'; do not
Err and read 'most delightful fruits.'
هِذيthis الْحِكَايَةُstory أَذْكَرَتْنِيreminded me أَنَّthat لِيI have
هِذي الْحِكَايَةُ أَذْكَرَتْنِي أَنَّ لِي
شَكْوَىa complaint إِلَيْكَto you عَظِيمَةُgreat in الأَخْطَارِimportance
شَكْوَى إِلَيْكَ عَظِيمَةُ الأَخْطَارِ
This story reminded me that I have
A complaint for you of grave importance.
أَشْكُوI complain إِلَيْكَto you المُتْجِرِينَof the merchants فَأَنهُمْfor they
أَشْكُو إِلَيْكَ المُتْجِرِينَ فَأَنهُمْ
جَعَلُواhave made بِفَضْلِكَabout your generosity رِيبَةًa doubt لِلشارِيfor the buyer
جَعَلُوا بِفَضْلِكَ رِيبَةً لِلشارِي
I complain to you of the merchants, for they
Have made buyers suspicious of your generosity.
مَنْwhoever يَشْتَرِbuys الطرْبُوشَthe fez يَكْشِفُuncovers سِتْرَهُhis covering
مَنْ يَشْتَرِ الطرْبُوشَ يَكْشِفُ سِتْرَهُ
بِيدَيْهِwith his own hands وَالطرْبُوشُand the fez بِالدِّينَارِcosts a dinar
بِيدَيْهِ وَالطرْبُوشُ بِالدِّينَارِ
Whoever buys a fez strips off his own covering
With his own hands—a fez costs a dinar.
فَاضْرِبْso strike عَلَىupon أَيْدِيthe hands of الغُلاَةِthe profiteers وَلاَand do not تَبَحْpermit
فَاضْرِبْ عَلَى أَيْدِي الغُلاَةِ وَلاَ تَبَحْ
كَسْبَthe earnings of الخِيَارِthe good لِمَطْمَعِto the greed of الأَشْرَارِthe wicked
كَسْبَ الخِيَارِ لِمَطْمَعِ الأَشْرَارِ
So stay the hands of the profiteers, and do not surrender
The earnings of the good to the greed of the wicked.
أَوْor فَاعْذُرِthen excuse الأَحْرارَthe freeborn إِنْif هَانَتْseem bearable لهُمْto them
أَوْ فَاعْذُرِ الأَحْرارَ إِنْ هَانَتْ لهُمْ
دُونَrather than السُّؤَالِbegging مَصَاعِبُthe hardships of الأَعْذَارِexcuses
دُونَ السُّؤَالِ مَصَاعِبُ الأَعْذَارِ
Or pardon free men if they find bearable
The hardships of excuses rather than begging.
يَاO صَاحِبِيmy friend وَسِوَاكand anyone but you لَيْسis not بِصَاحِبٍa friend
يَا صَاحِبِي وَسِوَاك لَيْس بِصَاحِبٍ
فِيin حَالَةٍa plight إِنْif آذَنَتْit portends بِبَوَارِruin
فِي حَالَةٍ إِنْ آذَنَتْ بِبَوَارِ
My friend—and none but you is a friend—
In a plight, should it threaten ruin:
رَأْسُthe head of الْخَلِيلِKhalil يُكَادُis about to يَغْدُوbecome حَاسِراًbareheaded
رَأْسُ الْخَلِيلِ يُكَادُ يَغْدُو حَاسِراً
لاno شَيءَthing يَدْرَأُwards off عَنْهُfrom it لَذْعَthe sting of النَّارِfire
لا شَيءَ يَدْرَأُ عَنْهُ لَذْعَ النَّارِ
Khalil's head is about to go bare,
With nothing to ward off the sting of fire.
وَهْوَand he الَّذِيis the one whose ماnot زَالَhas ceased مَصْنَعُthe workshop of فِكْرِهِhis thought
وَهْوَ الَّذِي ما زَالَ مَصْنَعُ فِكْرِهِ
يَكْسُوكَclothes you in تِيجاناًcrowns مِنَof الأَشْعَارِpoems
يَكْسُوكَ تِيجاناً مِنَ الأَشْعَارِ
Yet he is the one whose forge of thought has never ceased
To clothe you in crowns of verse.
بِالأَمْسِyesterday كانَit used to be يُقَالُsaid قَوْلَas a saying of تَبَجُّحٍboasting
بِالأَمْسِ كانَ يُقَالُ قَوْلَ تَبَجُّحٍ
شَرْقٌan East وَأَلْبِسةُand the garments of الرُؤُوسِheads عَوَارِيborrowed things
شَرْقٌ وَأَلْبِسةُ الرُؤُوسِ عَوَارِي
Yesterday the boastful saying went:
'An East whose head-coverings are borrowed!'
فَخَلَقْتَso you created فِيهِin it صِناعَةًan industry أَهْليَّةًnative
فَخَلَقْتَ فِيهِ صِناعَةً أَهْليَّةً
ردَّتْrestored لَهُto it قَدْراًa measure مِنَof الأَقْدَارِesteem
ردَّتْ لَهُ قَدْراً مِنَ الأَقْدَارِ
Then you created a native industry there,
Restoring to it a measure of esteem.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen أَنْقَذْتَهُyou saved it مِنْfrom عَارِهِits shame
حَتَّى إِذَا أَنْقَذْتَهُ مِنْ عَارِهِ
أَتُرَاكَwould you, I wonder تَرْضَىbe content أَنْthat يَبُوءَit should bear بِعَارِيmy shame
أَتُرَاكَ تَرْضَى أَنْ يَبُوءَ بِعَارِي
Now that you have saved it from its shame,
Would you, I wonder, let it bear my shame?
زَعَمُواthey claimed لِيَfor me التَّبرِيزَpreeminence فِيamong أُدَبائِهِمْtheir writers
زَعَمُوا لِيَ التَّبرِيزَ فِي أُدَبائِهِمْ
فَإِذاand if أَضاعُونِيthey forsake me فَأَيُّthen what شَنَارِdisgrace
فَإِذا أَضاعُونِي فَأَيُّ شَنَارِ
They claimed preeminence for me among their writers;
If they forsake me, what a disgrace!
بِاللهِby God كيْفَhow أَقُولُcan I say إِنthat أَخِيmy brother لَهُhe has
بِاللهِ كيْفَ أَقُولُ إِن أَخِي لَهُ
فَضْلٌa favor عَلَىupon رَأْسِيmy head وَرَأْسِيwhile my head عَارِis bare
فَضْلٌ عَلَى رَأْسِي وَرَأْسِي عَارِ
By God, how can I say my brother has
Bestowed favor on my head, while my head is bare?
لَوْif كانwere مَاwhat يُعْطِيhe gives بِمِقْدَارِin proportion to الهَوَىaffection
لَوْ كان مَا يُعْطِي بِمِقْدَارِ الهَوَى
لرَجَّحتُI would outweigh كُلَّall النَّاسِpeople بِالمِقَدَارِin the measure
لرَجَّحتُ كُلَّ النَّاسِ بِالمِقَدَارِ
If what he gives were measured by affection,
I would outweigh all people in the measure.
مَاhow كانwould have been أَظْفَرَنِيfortunate for me بِأَقْصَىin attaining the utmost حَاجَتِيof my need
مَا كان أَظْفَرَنِي بِأَقْصَى حَاجَتِي
لَوْif لمْnot يَكُنْwere لِسَوىfor other than الغِنيwealth إِيثارِيmy preference
لَوْ لمْ يَكُنْ لِسَوى الغِني إِيثارِي
How surely I would have attained my utmost wish,
Had I not preferred something other than wealth!
أَسَفاًalas لَقَدْindeed ضيَّعتُI squandered فِيon أَدَبِيmy writing وَفِيand on
أَسَفاً لَقَدْ ضيَّعتُ فِي أَدَبِي وَفِي
تَهْذِيبِrefining نَفْسِيmy soul أَنْفَسَthe most precious الأَعْمَارِyears of life
تَهْذِيبِ نَفْسِي أَنْفَسَ الأَعْمَارِ
Alas, I have squandered on my writing and on
Refining my soul the most precious years of life.
لاَnot أَمْلِكُI possess الدِّينَارَa dinar إِلاexcept بَائِعاًby selling
لاَ أَمْلِكُ الدِّينَارَ إِلا بَائِعاً
فِيin صَفْقَةٍa transaction مَجْمُوعَةٍall together آثَارِيmy works
فِي صَفْقَةٍ مَجْمُوعَةٍ آثَارِي
I cannot possess a dinar except by selling
My collected works in a single transaction.
وَلَوْand if only أَنَّنيI أَلْفَيْتُcould find مَنْsomeone who يَرْضَىis satisfied بِهَاwith them
وَلَوْ أَنَّني أَلْفَيْتُ مَنْ يَرْضَى بِهَا
لَكِنْbut قِليلٌfew مُقْتنِيare the buyers of الأَسْفارِbooks
لَكِنْ قِليلٌ مُقْتنِي الأَسْفارِ
If only I could find someone willing to take them!
But few are the buyers of books.
إِربَأْsafeguard بِوُلْدِكَyour children أَنْagainst يَزِيدَrising أَلَبُّهمْtheir brightest
إِربَأْ بِوُلْدِكَ أَنْ يَزِيدَ أَلَبُّهمْ
عَنْabove كَاتِبٍa writer مُتَوَسِّطmiddling أَوْor قَارِيa reader
عَنْ كَاتِبٍ مُتَوَسِّط أَوْ قَارِي
Keep even the brightest of your children from rising
Above a middling writer or a reader.
عَلِّمْهُمُteach them الْعِلْمَknowledge الصَّحيْحَtrue وَإِنهُfor indeed it
عَلِّمْهُمُ الْعِلْمَ الصَّحيْحَ وَإِنهُ
لِلنشْبِis surely grasping فِيat الفُرْصَاتِopportunities بِالأَظْفَارِwith the fingernails
لِلنشْبِ فِي الفُرْصَاتِ بِالأَظْفَارِ
Teach them true knowledge, for it consists
In sinking one's nails into opportunities.
وَلْتقْوَand let grow strong حِيَلَةُthe resourcefulness of عَقْلِهِمْtheir minds فَتُقِلهُمْso it may carry them
وَلْتقْوَ حِيَلَةُ عَقْلِهِمْ فَتُقِلهُمْ
كَالْفُلْكِlike a ship فِيin بَحْرٍa sea بَعيدِfar-off قَرَارِbottom
كَالْفُلْكِ فِي بَحْرٍ بَعيدِ قَرَارِ
Let their minds' resourcefulness grow strong and bear them
Like a ship upon a sea of far-off depths.
وَلْيَصْبِرُواand let them endure لِلْحَادِثَاتِlife's adversities إِذَاwhen عَصَتْdefies
وَلْيَصْبِرُوا لِلْحَادِثَاتِ إِذَا عَصَتْ
آمَالُهُمْtheir hopes فَالفَوزُfor victory لِلْصَبَّارِbelongs to the steadfast
آمَالُهُمْ فَالفَوزُ لِلْصَبَّارِ
Let them endure adversity when it defies
Their hopes; for victory belongs to the steadfast.
وَلْيُجْعَلِand let be made الخُلُقُcharacter العَظِيمُnoble خَلاَقَهُمْtheir portion
وَلْيُجْعَلِ الخُلُقُ العَظِيمُ خَلاَقَهُمْ
فَبِهِfor through it تَتِمِّare fulfilled عَظَائِمُthe greatest الأَوْطَارِaims
فَبِهِ تَتِمِّ عَظَائِمُ الأَوْطَارِ
Let noble character be their portion,
For through it the greatest aims are fulfilled.
وَبِهِand through it يَعُودُreturns هَوَىthe desire of النفُوسِsouls إِلىto الهُدَىright guidance
وَبِهِ يَعُودُ هَوَى النفُوسِ إِلى الهُدَى
بِتَسَلُّطِunder the mastery of الآرَاءِjudgments وَالأَفْكَارِand thoughts
بِتَسَلُّطِ الآرَاءِ وَالأَفْكَارِ
Through it the passions of souls return to guidance,
Under the mastery of judgment and thought.
أَحْبِبْhow dear بِهِمْthey are وَبِمَاand what يَهِيجُstirs up خطورَهُمْtheir coming to mind
أَحْبِبْ بِهِمْ وَبِمَا يَهِيجُ خطورَهُمْ
فِيin خَاطِرِيmy mind مِنْof شائِقِdelightful التذْكَارِremembrance
فِي خَاطِرِي مِنْ شائِقِ التذْكَارِ
How dear they are, and what the thought of them awakens
In my mind of delightful remembrance!
بِالأَمْسِyesterday أَحْمِلهُمْI carried them وَكَانُواand they were خمْسَةًfive
بِالأَمْسِ أَحْمِلهُمْ وَكَانُوا خمْسَةً
وَاليَوْمَand today قَدْhave indeed وَقُرُواgrown weighty وَزَادand has increased وَقَارِيmy dignity
وَاليَوْمَ قَدْ وَقُرُوا وَزَاد وَقَارِي
Yesterday I carried them, and they were five;
Today they have grown weighty, and my gravity has grown.
الْيوْمَtoday لَوْif جَارَيْتُهُمْI raced them فِيin شَوْطِهِمْtheir course
الْيوْمَ لَوْ جَارَيْتُهُمْ فِي شَوْطِهِمْ
لَمْnot أُلْفِنِيwould I find myself لِبَطيئِهِمْfor their slowest بِمُجَارِa match
لَمْ أُلْفِنِي لِبَطيئِهِمْ بِمُجَارِ
Today, if I raced them on their course,
I would not find myself a match for their slowest.
أَضْحَىhave become الذُّكُورُthe sons نُجَابَةًin nobility وَرُجُولَةًand manliness
أَضْحَى الذُّكُورُ نُجَابَةً وَرُجُولَةً
مِنْof جِيلِهِمْtheir generation فِيamong الصَّفوَةِthe elite الأَحْرَارِthe noble
مِنْ جِيلِهِمْ فِي الصَّفوَةِ الأَحْرَارِ
The sons, in nobility and manliness, have become
Among the noble elite of their generation.
وَسَلِيلَتَاكَand your two daughters أَرْاهُمَاI see them both قَدْhave indeed فَاقتَاboth surpassed
وَسَلِيلَتَاكَ أَرْاهُمَا قَدْ فَاقتَا
عَقْلاًin intelligence وَحُسْناًand beauty سَائِرَall the other الأَبْكَارِmaidens
عَقْلاً وَحُسْناً سَائِرَ الأَبْكَارِ
And your two daughters, I see, have surpassed
In intelligence and beauty all other maidens,
مُؤْتَمِتَّينِboth following مِثَالَthe example of أُمٍa mother حُرةٍnoble
مُؤْتَمِتَّينِ مِثَالَ أُمٍ حُرةٍ
بَرِئَتْare free شَمَائِلُهَاher qualities مِنَfrom الأَوْضَارِstains
بَرِئَتْ شَمَائِلُهَا مِنَ الأَوْضَارِ
Both following the example of a noble mother
Whose character is free of every stain.
بِالأَمْسِyesterday أَلْعَبُI played بَيْنَهُمْamong them وَلِرُبَمَاand often
بِالأَمْسِ أَلْعَبُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَلِرُبَمَا
سَكَنَfound solace الكَبِيرُthe elder إِلىin دِعَابِthe games of صِغَارِchildren
سَكَنَ الكَبِيرُ إِلى دِعَابِ صِغَارِ
Yesterday I played among them, and often
The elder found solace in children's games.
وَأُدِيرُهُمْand I spun them حَتَّىuntil يَعُودَbecame نِظامُهُمْtheir formation
وَأُدِيرُهُمْ حَتَّى يَعُودَ نِظامُهُمْ
كَالشُّهبِlike the bright stars فِيin فَلَكٍa sphere بِهَاwith them دَوارِwhirling
كَالشُّهبِ فِي فَلَكٍ بِهَا دَوارِ
And I spun them round until their formation became
Like bright stars in a sphere whirling with them.
وَالْيَوْمَand today أَبْصُرُI behold بِالسِّبالِthe mustaches تَذَنَّبتْgrown like tails
وَالْيَوْمَ أَبْصُرُ بِالسِّبالِ تَذَنَّبتْ
وَتعَقْرَبَتْand curled like scorpions وَسَطَتْand assaulted عَلَىupon الأَبْصَارِthe eyes
وَتعَقْرَبَتْ وَسَطَتْ عَلَى الأَبْصَارِ
Today I behold mustaches trailing like tails,
And curling like scorpions, and assaulting the eyes.
وَأَرَىand I see جَمَالَthe beauty of كَرِيمَتَيْكَyour two dear daughters مُرَعْرَعاًfully grown
وَأَرَى جَمَالَ كَرِيمَتَيْكَ مُرَعْرَعاً
فَأَرَىand so I see البِدَاعَةَthe artistry فِيin صَنِيعِthe handiwork of الْبَارِيthe Creator
فَأَرَى البِدَاعَةَ فِي صَنِيعِ الْبَارِي
I see your two dear daughters' beauty full-grown,
And see the artistry in the Creator's handiwork.
رَهْطٌa band إِذَاif كَانتْthere is مُبَاسَطَةُthe playfulness of الصِّباyouth
رَهْطٌ إِذَا كَانتْ مُبَاسَطَةُ الصِّبا
فِيهِمْamong them فَهُمْthen they فِيin الجِدِّearnestness جِدُّtruly كِبَارِgrown-up
فِيهِمْ فَهُمْ فِي الجِدِّ جِدُّ كِبَارِ
A band who, though youth's playful freedom
Is theirs, in earnest matters are truly mature.
إِنْif أَلْقَهُمْI meet them أَتَغَالىI go to great lengths فِيin إِكْرَامِهِمْhonoring them
إِنْ أَلْقَهُمْ أَتَغَالى فِي إِكْرَامِهِمْ
مُتَحَاشِياًavoiding إِبْدَاءَshowing الاِسِتصْغَارِcondescension
مُتَحَاشِياً إِبْدَاءَ الاِسِتصْغَارِ
When I meet them, I lavish honor on them,
Avoiding any show of condescension.
كُلاًّeach one أُحَيِّيI greet بِاحْتِشَامٍwith deference طَائِلٍample
كُلاًّ أُحَيِّي بِاحْتِشَامٍ طَائِلٍ
وَأَخافُand I fear تَقْصِيراًfalling short مَعِwith الإِقْصَارbrevity
وَأَخافُ تَقْصِيراً مَعِ الإِقْصَار
I greet each one with abundant deference,
And, even in brevity, fear falling short.
جَمَحَbolted اليَرَاعَthe pen فَرَاحَand went on مِنْin غُلْوَائِهِits impetuosity
جَمَحَ اليَرَاعَ فَرَاحَ مِنْ غُلْوَائِهِ
يَجْتازُpassing across مِضْمَاراًa racecourse إلىto مِضْمَارِanother racecourse
يَجْتازُ مِضْمَاراً إلى مِضْمَارِ
The pen has bolted, and in its headlong rush
Passes from racecourse to racecourse.
لَكِنَّنيbut I جَدّاًin earnest وَمَزْحاًand in jest لاَnot أَنِيI slacken
لَكِنَّني جَدّاً وَمَزْحاً لاَ أَنِي
أَهْدِيI guide بِمَوْعِظَتِيwith my counsel سَبِيلَthe path of السَّارِيthe night-traveler
أَهْدِي بِمَوْعِظَتِي سَبِيلَ السَّارِي
But, in earnest and in jest, I never cease
Guiding the night-traveler's way with my counsel.
أَبْنِيI build رِجَالاًmen لِلْبِلادِfor the country بِأَرْؤُسٍwith heads
أَبْنِي رِجَالاً لِلْبِلادِ بِأَرْؤُسٍ
وَعَلَيْكَand upon you is كِسْوَةَclothing هَامِهِمْtheir crowns بِفَخَارِwith pride
وَعَلَيْكَ كِسْوَةَ هَامِهِمْ بِفَخَارِ
I build men with heads for the country;
Yours is to clothe their crowns in glory.
أَمَّاas for الذُّرَىthe summits المُتَشَبِّهاتُthat resemble بِأَرْؤُسٍheads
أَمَّا الذُّرَى المُتَشَبِّهاتُ بِأَرْؤُسٍ
مِنْwith غَيْرِno مَاany عَقْلٍreason وَلاَand no اسْتِبْصَارِinsight
مِنْ غَيْرِ مَا عَقْلٍ وَلاَ اسْتِبْصَارِ
As for the summits that resemble heads,
Yet have neither reason nor insight,
تِلْكَthose الَّتِيwhich لاَno خَيْرَgood مِنْهَاfrom them يُرْتَجَىis hoped for
تِلْكَ الَّتِي لاَ خَيْرَ مِنْهَا يُرْتَجَى
فلْتبْقَso let them remain حَاسِرَةًbareheaded مَدَىthroughout الأَدْهَارِthe ages
فلْتبْقَ حَاسِرَةً مَدَى الأَدْهَارِ
Those from which no good can be hoped,
Let them remain bare for all the ages.
رَأْسُthe head of الحِمَارِa donkey حَرىًis deserving بِعُريٍof bareness دَائِمٍperpetual
رَأْسُ الحِمَارِ حَرىً بِعُريٍ دَائِمٍ
هَلْdoes يَنفْعُbenefit التَّعصِيبُhead-wrapping رَأْسَthe head of حِمَارِa donkey
هَلْ يَنفْعُ التَّعصِيبُ رَأْسَ حِمَارِ
A donkey's head deserves perpetual bareness;
Does wrapping a donkey's head do it any good?
عَودٌa return إِلىto مَاwhat كُنْتُI was مِنْهُabout it شاكِياًcomplaining
عَودٌ إِلى مَا كُنْتُ مِنْهُ شاكِياً
فاسْمَعْso listen وَأَنْصِفْناand give us justice مِنَagainst التُّجارِthe merchants
فاسْمَعْ وَأَنْصِفْنا مِنَ التُّجارِ
Back to what I was complaining of:
Hear me, and give us justice against the merchants.
نرْجوكwe look to you إِمَّاeither سَاتِراًas a coverer لِرُؤوسِناof our heads
نرْجوك إِمَّا سَاتِراً لِرُؤوسِنا
أَوْor كَاشِفاًas an exposer لِمَظَالِمِof the injustices of الفُجَّارِthe wicked
أَوْ كَاشِفاً لِمَظَالِمِ الفُجَّارِ
We look to you either to cover our heads,
Or to uncover the wrongs of the wicked.
وَلأَنْتَand you indeed أَسْمَحُthe most generous مَنْof those يُؤَمُّis sought جَنَابُهُhis presence
وَلأَنْتَ أَسْمَحُ مَنْ يُؤَمُّ جَنَابُهُ
فَيُعيدُand so turns إِعْسَاراًpoverty إِلىinto الإِيسارِprosperity
فَيُعيدُ إِعْسَاراً إِلى الإِيسارِ
You are indeed the most generous of those whose presence is sought,
Turning poverty into prosperity.
Sol 6.1