أَلَيْسَ شَيْئاً عَجِيبا

أَلَيْسَ شَيْئاً عَجِيبا

صَرْحٌ وَيُدْعَى بِغُرْفَهْ

صَرْحٌ وَيُدْعَى بِغُرْفَهْ

Is it not a wondrous thing—

Is it not a wondrous thing,

an edifice, yet called a chamber?

A palace called by its chambers,

تَنَاقُضٌ فِيهِ سِرٌّ

تَنَاقُضٌ فِيهِ سِرٌّ

تَجْلُو الْبَدَاهَةُ لُطْفَهْ

تَجْلُو الْبَدَاهَةُ لُطْفَهْ

A contradiction holding a secret

Contradiction therein a secret -

whose subtlety intuition reveals.

Obviousness shows its subtlety.

وَمَا التَّوَاضُعُ عَجْزٌ

وَمَا التَّوَاضُعُ عَجْزٌ

إِنَّ التَّوَاضُعَ عِفَّهْ

إِنَّ التَّوَاضُعَ عِفَّهْ

And humility is no weakness;

Humility is not weakness -

indeed, humility is self-restraint.

Rather, humility is its strength.

صَرْحٌ بِهِ كُلُّ غُنْمٍ

صَرْحٌ بِهِ كُلُّ غُنْمٍ

لِمَنْ يُقَلبُ طَرْفَهْ

لِمَنْ يُقَلبُ طَرْفَهْ

An edifice containing every bounty

A palace wherein is every delight

for whoever turns his gaze.

For he who turns his gaze

فِي كُلِّ مَطْرَحِ لَحْظٍ

فِي كُلِّ مَطْرَحِ لَحْظٍ

مِنَ الصِّناعَاتِ طُرْفَهْ

مِنَ الصِّناعَاتِ طُرْفَهْ

Wherever a glance falls,

In every resting-place of glances -

a marvel of craftsmanship.

From crafts, turns his gaze,

وَمِنْ عُرُوضِ التجَارَا

وَمِنْ عُرُوضِ التجَارَا

تِ تُحْفَةٌ عِنْدَ تُحْفَهْ

تِ تُحْفَةٌ عِنْدَ تُحْفَهْ

And among the wares of commerce,

And from the wares of merchants, a gift

one treasure beside another.

Awaiting its taker.

أَلنَّسْجُ يُبْدِي حُلاهُ

أَلنَّسْجُ يُبْدِي حُلاهُ

وَالطِّيْبُ يَبْذُلُ عَرْفَهْ

وَالطِّيْبُ يَبْذُلُ عَرْفَهْ

The fabric displays its finery,

The weave shows its warp,

and perfume gives forth its fragrance.

And scent gives its aroma,

مَتَانَةٌ فِي رُوَاءٍ

مَتَانَةٌ فِي رُوَاءٍ

وَحُسْنُ ذَوْقٍ وَخِفَّهْ

وَحُسْنُ ذَوْقٍ وَخِفَّهْ

Strength within beauty,

Durability in comfort,

and fine taste and lightness.

Good taste and lightness.