أَشْرِقْshine وَحَوْلكَand around you وُلْدُكَyour children الأَبْرَارُthe righteous
أَشْرِقْ وَحَوْلكَ وُلْدُكَ الأَبْرَارُ
كالشمْسِlike the sun تَزْهُوare radiant حَوْلَهَاaround it الأَنْوَارُthe lights
كالشمْسِ تَزْهُو حَوْلَهَا الأَنْوَارُ
Shine, with your righteous children around you,
Like the sun, with lights resplendent around it.
أَنْتَyou الْفَرِيدَةُthe matchless pearl فِيin بَدِيعِwondrous نِظَامِهِمْtheir arrangement
أَنْتَ الْفَرِيدَةُ فِي بَدِيعِ نِظَامِهِمْ
وَهُمُand they الْقِلاَدَةُthe necklace دُرُّهَاits pearls مُخْتارُchoice
وَهُمُ الْقِلاَدَةُ دُرُّهَا مُخْتارُ
You are the matchless pearl in their wondrous array,
And they the necklace, whose pearls are choice.
يَاO حُسْنَthe beauty of حَفْلَتِهِمْtheir gathering وَيَاand O عَجَباًwonder لِمَاat what
يَا حُسْنَ حَفْلَتِهِمْ وَيَا عَجَباً لِمَا
كَانُواthey were وَمَاand what بَعْدَafter الطُّفولَةِchildhood صَارُواthey became
كَانُوا وَمَا بَعْدَ الطُّفولَةِ صَارُوا
How lovely their gathering, and how wondrous what
They were, and what they became after childhood!
حَالاَنtwo states لِلأَقْدَارِfor the fates سِرٌّa secret فيهِمَاin them both
حَالاَن لِلأَقْدَارِ سِرٌّ فيهِمَا
تَمْضِيmove onward وَلاَand do not تَتَضَارَعُresemble one another الأَقْدَارthe fates
تَمْضِي وَلاَ تَتَضَارَعُ الأَقْدَار
Two states in which the fates hold a secret;
The fates move onward, never alike.
أَأُولئِكَare those? المُرْدُthe beardless youths الأُولَىwho جَابُواtraversed الصِّبَاyouth
أَأُولئِكَ المُرْدُ الأُولَى جَابُوا الصِّبَا
وَالخَطْوُand the steps وَثْبٌleaps وَالرُّقَادُand sleep غِرَارbrief snatches
وَالخَطْوُ وَثْبٌ وَالرُّقَادُ غِرَار
Are those beardless youths who traversed youth,
Their steps all leaps, their sleep but snatches,
هُمْthey هَؤُلاَءِthese الشِّيبُthe gray-haired يُلْقُونَlay down الْعَصَاthe staff
هُمْ هَؤُلاَءِ الشِّيبُ يُلْقُونَ الْعَصَا
وَعَلَىand upon الرُّؤُوسِthe heads مِنَfrom الْمَسِيرِthe journey غُبَارُdust
وَعَلَى الرُّؤُوسِ مِنَ الْمَسِيرِ غُبَارُ
These gray-haired men, laying down their staffs,
With dust upon their heads from the journey?
هَيْهَاتَfar from possible يَصْفُوbe unclouded الْعُمْرُlife مِثْلَlike صَفَائِهِits clarity
هَيْهَاتَ يَصْفُو الْعُمْرُ مِثْلَ صَفَائِهِ
أَيَّامَthe days when نَحْنُwe الْفِتْيَةُthe youths الأَغْرَارُthe guileless
أَيَّامَ نَحْنُ الْفِتْيَةُ الأَغْرَارُ
Life can never be as unclouded as it was
In the days when we were guileless youths.
للهِto God أَيَّامُthe days of الصِّباyouth وَسُعُودُهَاand their good fortunes
للهِ أَيَّامُ الصِّبا وَسُعُودُهَا
وَضُرُوبُand the kinds of فِتْنَتِهَاtheir enchantment وَهُنَّand they كِثَارُmany
وَضُرُوبُ فِتْنَتِهَا وَهُنَّ كِثَارُ
God's are the days of youth and their good fortunes,
And the forms of their enchantment—so many!
مَاhow أَسْمَجَugly الدُّنْيَاthe world وَفِيناand in us كبْرَةٌold age
مَا أَسْمَجَ الدُّنْيَا وَفِينا كبْرَةٌ
مَاhow أَبْهَجَdelightful الدُّنْيَاthe world وَنَحْنُand we صِغَارُsmall
مَا أَبْهَجَ الدُّنْيَا وَنَحْنُ صِغَارُ
How ugly the world when old age is upon us!
How delightful the world when we are small!
بِالأَمْسِyesterday نَنْمُوwe grow وَالغُصُونُand the branches نَضِيرَةٌlush
بِالأَمْسِ نَنْمُو وَالغُصُونُ نَضِيرَةٌ
وَالْعَيْشُand life تَسْتُرُconceal شَوْكَهُits thorns الأَزْهَارُthe flowers
وَالْعَيْشُ تَسْتُرُ شَوْكَهُ الأَزْهَارُ
Yesterday we were growing, the branches lush,
And flowers hid the thorns of life.
وَالْيَومَand today تَسْتَحْيِيfeel ashamed الرِّيَاضُthe gardens لِعُرْيِهَاbecause of their nakedness
وَالْيَومَ تَسْتَحْيِي الرِّيَاضُ لِعُرْيِهَا
وَتَلُوحُand appear لاَno وَرَقٌleaves وَلاَnor أَثْمَارُfruit
وَتَلُوحُ لاَ وَرَقٌ وَلاَ أَثْمَارُ
Today the gardens are ashamed of their nakedness,
And stand revealed, with neither leaves nor fruit.
مَاwhatever نَنْسَwe forget لَنْshall not نَنْسَاهُwe forget it عَهْداًa time طَيِّباًpleasant
مَا نَنْسَ لَنْ نَنْسَاهُ عَهْداً طَيِّباً
وَلَّىpassed فَظلَّand so kept يُعِيدُهُbringing it back التَّذْكَارُremembrance
وَلَّى فَظلَّ يُعِيدُهُ التَّذْكَارُ
Whatever we forget, we shall not forget that pleasant time.
It passed, and memory kept bringing it back.
فِيin ظِلِّthe shade of سَيِّدِنَاour master انْقَضَىit passed لَكِنْbut لَهُit has
فِي ظِلِّ سَيِّدِنَا انْقَضَى لَكِنْ لَهُ
مَهْماhowever يَغِبْit is absent فِيin الأَنْفُسِthe souls اسْتِحْضَارُrecollection
مَهْما يَغِبْ فِي الأَنْفُسِ اسْتِحْضَارُ
Beneath our master's shade it passed; yet it has,
However absent, a remembered presence in our souls.
فِيهِin it طَلبْناwe sought الْعِلْمَknowledge تَحْتَbeneath لِوَائِهِhis banner
فِيهِ طَلبْنا الْعِلْمَ تَحْتَ لِوَائِهِ
وَلِوَاؤُهُand his banner ظِلٌّa shade لَنَاfor us وَمَنَارُand a beacon
وَلِوَاؤُهُ ظِلٌّ لَنَا وَمَنَارُ
In it we sought knowledge beneath his banner,
And his banner is our shade and beacon.
أَيْO إِخْوَتِيmy brothers هَذَاthis مُرَبِّيناour teacher الّذيwho
أَيْ إِخْوَتِي هَذَا مُرَبِّينا الّذي
لِهُدَاهُof his guidance فِيin أَعْيَانِناour very persons آثَارُtraces
لِهُدَاهُ فِي أَعْيَانِنا آثَارُ
O my brothers, this is our teacher, whose
Guidance has left traces in our very selves.
حَبْرٌa learned prelate تَحَقَّقcame true فِيin عُلاَهُhis eminence رَجَاؤُنُاour hope
حَبْرٌ تَحَقَّق فِي عُلاَهُ رَجَاؤُنُا
لَمَاwhen غدَاcame to be تَعْنُوbow لَهُbefore him الأَحْبَارُthe prelates
لَمَا غدَا تَعْنُو لَهُ الأَحْبَارُ
A learned prelate: in his eminence our hope came true,
When the prelates began bowing before him.
وَافَىhe arrived إِلىto مِصْرٍEgypt فَكَانَتْand so it was رِحْلَةٌa journey
وَافَى إِلى مِصْرٍ فَكَانَتْ رِحْلَةٌ
قَرَّتْwere gladdened بِهَاby it مِنْof شَعْبِهِhis people الأَبْصَارُthe eyes
قَرَّتْ بِهَا مِنْ شَعْبِهِ الأَبْصَارُ
He came to Egypt, and it was a journey
That brought delight to the eyes of his people.
قَدْindeed أَكْبَرَتْshe greatly honored ذَاكَthat الْقُدومَarrival فَأَبْدَعَتْand so made exquisite
قَدْ أَكْبَرَتْ ذَاكَ الْقُدومَ فَأَبْدَعَتْ
زِيناتِهَاher decorations وَلِمِثْلِهِand for one like him الإِكبَارُreverence
زِيناتِهَا وَلِمِثْلِهِ الإِكبَارُ
She greatly honored that arrival and made exquisite
Her decorations; honor is due to such as he.
كَادَتْalmost تَخِفُّgrow buoyant الْبَيْعَةthe church الْكُبْرَىthe great لَهُfor him
كَادَتْ تَخِفُّ الْبَيْعَة الْكُبْرَى لَهُ
لوَif لَمْnot يُثَبِّتهَاheld it steady الْغَدَاةَthat morning وَقَارْdignity
لوَ لَمْ يُثَبِّتهَا الْغَدَاةَ وَقَارْ
The great church almost leapt for him,
Had dignity not held it steady that morning.
أَبْدَتْdisplayed أَفَانِينَvarieties of الْمَحَاسِنِbeauties دَارُهُhis house
أَبْدَتْ أَفَانِينَ الْمَحَاسِنِ دَارُهُ
وَأَجَلَّand greater حُسْناًin beauty مَاwhat تُكِنُّshelters الدَّارُthe house
وَأَجَلَّ حُسْناً مَا تُكِنُّ الدَّارُ
His house displayed all manner of beauty,
And greater in beauty is what the house contains.
وَلَرُبَّماand sometimes indeed مُنِحَis granted الْجَمَادُlifeless matter كَرَامَةًhonor
وَلَرُبَّما مُنِحَ الْجَمَادُ كَرَامَةً
فَأَجَلَّand so exalted قَدْرَthe standing of الزَّائِرِيَنَthe visitors مَزَارُa shrine
فَأَجَلَّ قَدْرَ الزَّائِرِيَنَ مَزَارُ
And lifeless things may sometimes be granted honor,
So a shrine exalts the standing of its visitors.
دِيمِتْرِيُوسُDemetrius الْعَالِمُthe scholar الْعَلَمُthe luminary الَّذِيwho
دِيمِتْرِيُوسُ الْعَالِمُ الْعَلَمُ الَّذِي
تُصْبِيcaptivate النُّهىthe intellects أَخْلاَقُهُhis virtues الأَطْهَارُthe pure
تُصْبِي النُّهى أَخْلاَقُهُ الأَطْهَارُ
Demetrius, the scholar and luminary, whose
Pure virtues captivate discerning minds.
نِعْمَhow excellent الْهُمَامُthe nobleman الثَّبتُthe steadfast إِنْif مَرَّتْpassed بِهِover him
نِعْمَ الْهُمَامُ الثَّبتُ إِنْ مَرَّتْ بِهِ
أُزَمٌcrises وَنِعْمَand how excellent الْحَازِمُthe resolute الصَّبارُthe ever-patient
أُزَمٌ وَنِعْمَ الْحَازِمُ الصَّبارُ
How fine the steadfast nobleman, should he be beset
By crises; how fine the resolute, long-suffering man!
أَلمُرْتَجِيthe one hoping for عَفْوَthe pardon of الكَرِيمthe Generous One المُتَّقيthe one wary of
أَلمُرْتَجِي عَفْوَ الكَرِيم المُتَّقي
غَضَبَthe wrath of الْحَلِيمِthe Forbearing One وَالمُحْسِنُand the benefactor الْغَفَّارُthe ever-forgiving
غَضَبَ الْحَلِيمِ وَالمُحْسِنُ الْغَفَّارُ
Hoping for the Generous One's pardon, guarding against
The Forbearing One's wrath; benevolent and ever-forgiving;
أَلمُقْتفِيthe follower of بِالسيْرِin conduct أَعْدَلَthe most just مَنْهَجٍpath
أَلمُقْتفِي بِالسيْرِ أَعْدَلَ مَنْهَجٍ
نَهَجَتْهُtrod it أَسْلاَفforebears لَهُit has أَخْبَارُaccounts
نَهَجَتْهُ أَسْلاَف لَهُ أَخْبَارُ
Following in his conduct the most just path,
Which forebears trod, a path with its own history.
أَنْظَرتُمُوهُhave you seen him? حِيْنَwhen يَدْعُوhe calls upon رَبهُhis Lord
أَنْظَرتُمُوهُ حِيْنَ يَدْعُو رَبهُ
والشَّمسُand the sun تَاجٌa crown وَالنُّجومُand the stars دِثَارُa mantle
والشَّمسُ تَاجٌ وَالنُّجومُ دِثَارُ
Have you seen him when he calls upon his Lord,
The sun a crown, the stars a mantle,
يَجْلُوhe reveals سَنَىthe radiance of القُدْسِholiness المُحَجَّبthe veiled جَهْرَةopenly
يَجْلُو سَنَى القُدْسِ المُحَجَّب جَهْرَة
وَعَلَىand at يَدَيْهِhis hands تَكْمُلُare fulfilled الأَسْرَارُthe sacraments
وَعَلَى يَدَيْهِ تَكْمُلُ الأَسْرَارُ
Revealing openly the veiled radiance of holiness,
While at his hands the sacred mysteries are fulfilled?
وَكَأَنَّand as though لأَلاَءِthe radiance of المَسِيحِChrist بِوَجْهِهِupon his face
وَكَأَنَّ لأَلاَءِ المَسِيحِ بِوَجْهِهِ
إِذْwhen تَنْجَليare lifted عَنْfrom وَجْهِهِhis face الأَسْتَارُthe veils
إِذْ تَنْجَلي عَنْ وَجْهِهِ الأَسْتَارُ
As though Christ's radiance were upon his face,
When the veils are lifted from his face.
يَاO أَيُّهاyou الإِخْوَانُbrothers مِنْamong أَبْكَارِنَاour firstborn
يَا أَيُّها الإِخْوَانُ مِنْ أَبْكَارِنَا
سِنَّاin age وَفِيمَand why الرَّوْغُevasion وَالإِنْكَارُand denial
سِنَّا وَفِيمَ الرَّوْغُ وَالإِنْكَارُ
O brothers, among our firstborn
In age—and why this evasion and denial?
بَلْrather أَيُّهاyou الإِخْوَانُbrothers مِنْamong أَبْكَارِنَاour firstborn
بَلْ أَيُّها الإِخْوَانُ مِنْ أَبْكَارِنَا
عِلْماًin learning وَنِعْمَand how excellent الإِخْوَةُthe brothers الأَبْكَارُthe firstborn
عِلْماً وَنِعْمَ الإِخْوَةُ الأَبْكَارُ
Rather, brothers, among our firstborn
In learning—and what fine firstborn brothers!
مِنْfrom among كُلevery ذِيone possessing نُبلٍnobility وَذِيand one possessing فَضْلٍvirtue وَذِيand one possessing
مِنْ كُل ذِي نُبلٍ وَذِي فَضْلٍ وَذِي
أَدَبٍrefinement بِهِwith him تَتَنَادَمُenjoy convivial company السُّمارُthe night companions
أَدَبٍ بِهِ تَتَنَادَمُ السُّمارُ
Each a man of nobility, of virtue, and of
Refinement, with whom the night companions make merry.
أَلْبِشْرُcheerfulness شَامِلُكُمْembracing you all فَإِنْand if لَمْnot يُوفِهِdo it full justice
أَلْبِشْرُ شَامِلُكُمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ يُوفِهِ
وَصْفِيmy description فَقَدْthen perhaps يُعييbe at a loss بِهِover it بَشَّارُBashshar
وَصْفِي فَقَدْ يُعيي بِهِ بَشَّارُ
Joy embraces you all; if it is not done justice
By my description, even Bashshar might falter at it.
رَعْياًshow consideration لِمَجْهُودِيfor my effort وَفِيand in شَرْعِthe law of الْهَوَىlove
رَعْياً لِمَجْهُودِي وَفِي شَرْعِ الْهَوَى
يُرْعَىis treated indulgently القُصُورُinability وَيُكْرَهُand is disliked الإِقْصَارُwithholding effort
يُرْعَى القُصُورُ وَيُكْرَهُ الإِقْصَارُ
Have regard for my effort; in the law of love,
Inability is excused, but holding back is scorned.
سَمْعَانُSim'an يَسْمَعُhe hears كُلevery مَدْحٍpraise إِنْif يُقَلْis spoken
سَمْعَانُ يَسْمَعُ كُل مَدْحٍ إِنْ يُقَلْ
فِيabout غَيْرِهِsomeone other than him وَلَهُand he has بِهِin it اسْتِبْشَارُjoy
فِي غَيْرِهِ وَلَهُ بِهِ اسْتِبْشَارُ
Sim'an hears every word of praise, if spoken
Of someone else, and takes delight in it.
وَالْيَوْمَand today أَجْرَأُI dare أَنْto أُخَالِفَoppose طَبْعَهُhis nature
وَالْيَوْمَ أَجْرَأُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَ طَبْعَهُ
وَجَمِيعُكُمْand all of you فِيin ذَاكَthat لِيfor me أَنْصَارُsupporters
وَجَمِيعُكُمْ فِي ذَاكَ لِي أَنْصَارُ
Today I dare to go against his nature,
And all of you are my allies in this.
يَاO رَابِحَyou who gain الْوَزْناتِthe talents (money) أَبْشِرْrejoice هَكَذَاthus
يَا رَابِحَ الْوَزْناتِ أَبْشِرْ هَكَذَا
أَجْرُthe reward of الزَّكاةِalmsgiving وَهَكَذَاand thus الإِتْجَارُtrading
أَجْرُ الزَّكاةِ وَهَكَذَا الإِتْجَارُ
O you who profit from the talents, rejoice: such
Is charity's reward, and such is commerce.
لَيْسَis not الْمُحَدِّثُthe one speaking عَنْof نَدَاكyour generosity بِمُفْتَرٍa liar
لَيْسَ الْمُحَدِّثُ عَنْ نَدَاك بِمُفْتَرٍ
وَمُصَدِّقاهُand his two corroborators الْخُبْرُexperience وَالأَخْبَارُand reports
وَمُصَدِّقاهُ الْخُبْرُ وَالأَخْبَارُ
Whoever speaks of your bounty is no liar,
And experience and reports both bear him out.
عِشْlive يَاO هُمَامُnobleman وَسُدْand lead فَمِثْلُكfor one like you إِنْif يَسُدْleads
عِشْ يَا هُمَامُ وَسُدْ فَمِثْلُك إِنْ يَسُدْ
فِيهِin him لاِمَّتهِfor his nation غِنىًprosperity وَفخارُand pride
فِيهِ لاِمَّتهِ غِنىً وَفخارُ
Live, noble man, and lead; if one like you leads,
In him his nation finds prosperity and pride.
عَوْدٌa return إِلىto الضَّيفِthe guest الْجَلِيلِthe illustrious فإِنْand if أَكنْI have
عَوْدٌ إِلى الضَّيفِ الْجَلِيلِ فإِنْ أَكنْ
دَاوَلْتُI alternated فِيin مَدْحِيmy praise فلِيthen I have أَعْذارُexcuses
دَاوَلْتُ فِي مَدْحِي فلِي أَعْذارُ
Back to the illustrious guest; if I have
Alternated in my praise, I have my excuses.
قَدْmay يُسْتحَبُّbe admired الْعِقْدُthe necklace وَهْوَwhile it is مُفَصَّلٌstrung in sections
قَدْ يُسْتحَبُّ الْعِقْدُ وَهْوَ مُفَصَّلٌ
وَيَرُوعُand dazzles حِيْنَwhen يُنوَّعُis varied النُّوَّارُthe blossoms
وَيَرُوعُ حِيْنَ يُنوَّعُ النُّوَّارُ
A necklace may be admired for its varied sections,
And flowers dazzle when their kinds are varied.
يَاO أَيُّهاyou المَوْلَىthe master الْكَبِيرُthe great بِنفْسِهِin himself
يَا أَيُّها المَوْلَى الْكَبِيرُ بِنفْسِهِ
وَبِتابِعِيهِand in his followers وَإِنَّهمْand indeed they لِكَبارُare truly great
وَبِتابِعِيهِ وَإِنَّهمْ لِكَبارُ
O master, great in your own person
And in your followers—great indeed are they!
لمْnot يُخْطِيءِhas erred الدَّاعِيكَthe one calling you بِالْقاضِيas judge إِذَاif
لمْ يُخْطِيءِ الدَّاعِيكَ بِالْقاضِي إِذَا
عُنِيَis meant الَّذِيthe one whom لاَnot تحْرِفُdivert الأَوْطَارُpersonal desires
عُنِيَ الَّذِي لاَ تحْرِفُ الأَوْطَارُ
He who calls you judge has not erred, if
One whom desires cannot sway is meant.
أَلْعَدْلُjustice عِنْدَكَin your view رَحْمَةٌmercy عُلْوِيَّةٌheavenly
أَلْعَدْلُ عِنْدَكَ رَحْمَةٌ عُلْوِيَّةٌ
حَتَّىuntil يَثُوبَreturn إِلَىto التُّقىpiety الأَشْرَارُthe wicked
حَتَّى يَثُوبَ إِلَى التُّقى الأَشْرَارُ
Justice, to you, is heavenly mercy,
Until the wicked return to piety.
فَإِذَاand when تقاضَتْكَdemands from you الشَّجاعَةُcourage حَقَّهاits due
فَإِذَا تقاضَتْكَ الشَّجاعَةُ حَقَّها
شقِيَsuffers الْعَتِيُّthe defiant one وَحُطِّمand is shattered الْجَبَّارُthe tyrant
شقِيَ الْعَتِيُّ وَحُطِّم الْجَبَّارُ
But when courage demands its due of you,
The defiant man suffers, and the tyrant is shattered.
دُمْremain رَاعِياًa shepherd لِلشعْبِto the people يَاO مُخْتارَهُtheir chosen one
دُمْ رَاعِياً لِلشعْبِ يَا مُخْتارَهُ
يَسْعَدْmay prosper بِظِلكin your shade شعْبُكَyour people الْمخْتارthe chosen
يَسْعَدْ بِظِلك شعْبُكَ الْمخْتار
Remain the people's shepherd, O their chosen one;
May your chosen people prosper in your shade.
Sol 6.1