"أجاركmay He protect you اللهGod؛ هذاthis الحلفُthe alliance والجارُand the neighbor"
"أجارك الله؛ هذا الحلفُ والجارُ"
عليكَagainst you لاnot لكfor you أعوانٌhelpers وأنصارand supporters
عليكَ لا لك أعوانٌ وأنصار
May God protect you! This alliance and this neighbor
May God protect you; this oath and neighbor
are helpers and supporters against you, not for you.
You have no helpers or supporters against you
همْthey حكَّمواappointed arbiters فإذاthen behold التحكيمُarbitration عندهمُfor them
همْ حكَّموا فإذا التحكيمُ عندهمُ
تحكّمٌarbitrary rule وإذاand behold التخييرُoffering a choice إجبارcoercion
تحكّمٌ وإذا التخييرُ إجبار
They appointed arbiters, yet arbitration, for them,
They arbitrated, and when arbitration is with them
is arbitrary rule, and offering a choice is coercion.
It is compulsion, and when there is choice, it is coercion
قضيةٌan affair عجبٌan astonishing thing تُبكيmakes one weep وَتضحكُand makes one laugh سلْask
قضيةٌ عجبٌ تُبكي وَتضحكُ سلْ
عنabout خطبهاits ordeal (الوفدَthe delegation) واستشهدْand call as witness لهاfor it (غاروGaro)
عن خطبها (الوفدَ) واستشهدْ لها (غارو)
A strange affair, making one weep and laugh; ask
A wondrous case that makes one laugh and cry, ask
the delegation about its ordeal, and call Garo as its witness.
About its circumstances (the delegation) and cite as evidence for it (Garu)
لاnot يستقيمُholds قياسٌan analogy فيamid تناقضِهاits contradictions
لا يستقيمُ قياسٌ في تناقضِها
ولاand not يصحُّholds true عَلَىfor ماwhat تمَّwas done معيارa standard
ولا يصحُّ عَلَى ما تمَّ معيار
No analogy holds amid its contradictions,
No reasoning is sound in its contradictions
nor does any standard fit what has been done.
And no standard is correct in its measures
الخصمُthe adversary يحكمjudges والقاضيand the judge بهاin it هملٌneglected
الخصمُ يحكم والقاضي بها هملٌ
والحقُand the right يُصرعُis struck down والبهتانُand slander سوّارrampant
والحقُ يُصرعُ والبهتانُ سوّار
The adversary judges, while the judge in the case is neglected;
The opponent judges and the judge in it is negligent
right is struck down, while slander runs rampant.
And truth is vanquished while falsehood is embellished
إذاif المحاميthe advocate أعانhelped الخصمَthe adversary فيin ترةٍa wrong
إذا المحامي أعان الخصمَ في ترةٍ
فليتthen if only شعريَmy knowledge ممنfrom whom يُدركis obtained الثارvengeance
فليت شعريَ ممن يُدرك الثار
If the advocate helps the adversary inflict a wrong,
When the lawyer assists the opponent in harm
then would that I knew from whom vengeance can be exacted.
I wonder who will attain vengeance
قلْsay للحليفِto the ally وخيرُand the best القولِspeech أصدقُهits truest
قلْ للحليفِ وخيرُ القولِ أصدقُه
ماwhat بالis the matter with جيشan army توارىhid itself وَهوwhile it is جرَارvast
ما بال جيش توارى وَهو جرَار
Tell the ally—and the best speech is the truest—
Tell the oath-taker, and the best words are the most truthful
why has an army hidden itself, though it is vast?
What ails an army that retreated while it is fierce?
منfrom بعدafter عشرينtwenty عاماyears بينamong أظهرناour midst
من بعد عشرين عاما بين أظهرنا
لمnot يَحمِdefend ثغراًa frontier وَلمand not تُمنعwas protected بهby it دارa home
لم يَحمِ ثغراً وَلم تُمنع به دار
After twenty years in our midst,
After twenty years between our shoulders
it has defended no frontier, nor has a home been protected by it.
It did not protect a frontier, nor did it defend a house
عهديmy recollection بهof it يستثيرstirs up الطفلُthe child غضبَتَهits anger
عهدي به يستثير الطفلُ غضبَتَه
ماwhat بالهis the matter with it اليومَtoday رحبُbroad الصدرِof breast صبَّارvery patient
ما باله اليومَ رحبُ الصدرِ صبَّار
As I remember it, a child would stir its fury;
My covenant with it provokes the anger of an infant
why today is it so broad of breast, so patient?
What is wrong with it today, being gentle and patient?
أعيذهI seek protection for it أنlest يقولواthey say عنهof it: جبّارُa tyrant
أعيذه أن يقولوا عنه: جبّارُ
عَلَىover الضعيفthe weak وعندand in البأسِbattle خوّارcraven
عَلَى الضعيف وعند البأسِ خوّار
I would shield it from their saying: “A tyrant
I seek refuge for it lest they say about it: A tyrant
over the weak, but craven in battle.”
Upon the weak, and in calamity, a coward
ياO لابسَwearer of الثوبِthe robe مزهوّاًproud بجدّتِهof its newness
يا لابسَ الثوبِ مزهوّاً بجدّتِه
أُنظرْlook فقدfor already علقتْhas caught فيin ذيلِهits hem النارُthe fire
أُنظرْ فقد علقتْ في ذيلِه النارُ
O wearer of the robe, proud of its newness,
Oh you who wears a garment proudly because of its newness
look: fire has caught its hem!
Look, for fire has caught onto its hem
عساكperhaps you تزعمُclaim أنَّthat الأمرَthe matter بُتَّwas decided بهregarding it
عساك تزعمُ أنَّ الأمرَ بُتَّ به
"منfrom دونwithout عِلمِكَyour knowledge؛ هلis there فيin ذاكthat إعذارan excuse؟ "
"من دون عِلمِكَ؛ هل في ذاك إعذار؟ "
Perhaps you claim that the matter was decided
Maybe you claim the matter was decreed without
without your knowledge; is that any excuse?
Your knowledge; is there any excuse in that?
يقضىjudgment is passed عَلَىagainst حقِناour right بغياًunjustly وَليسand there is no لناfor us
يقضى عَلَى حقِنا بغياً وَليس لنا
علمٌknowledge، لعمركby your life هذاthis الهُوْنُhumiliation والعارand disgrace
علمٌ، لعمرك هذا الهُوْنُ والعار
Judgment is passed unjustly against our right, while we have
It rules against our right unjustly while we have
no knowledge of it—by your life, this is humiliation and disgrace.
No knowledge - by your life, this submissiveness and disgrace!
ويلُwoe الضعيفِthe weak وأُفٍّand fie للقويon the strong إذاwhen
ويلُ الضعيفِ وأُفٍّ للقوي إذا
لمnot يبقremains للعدلِfor justice إيرادٌbringing in وإصدارand sending out
لم يبق للعدلِ إيرادٌ وإصدار
Woe to the weak, and fie on the strong, when
Woe to the weak, and shame on the strong when
justice has no power to bring in or send out.
There is no recourse left for justice, no issuance or decree
إذاif الممالكُkingdoms لمnot ترفعْare raised قواعدُهاtheir foundations
إذا الممالكُ لم ترفعْ قواعدُها
علىon الأسنةِspearpoints فالبنيانُthen the edifice منهارcollapsing
على الأسنةِ فالبنيانُ منهار
If the foundations of kingdoms are not raised
When kingdoms do not establish its foundations
upon spearpoints, the edifice collapses.
Upon tongues, then the structure will collapse
قالواthey said (الجزيرةAl-Jazira) لاnot ترضىis content بحكمكمُwith your rule
قالوا (الجزيرة) لا ترضى بحكمكمُ
ماthere is nothing فيin (الجزيرةAl-Jazira) إلاexcept النفطُoil والقارand tar
ما في (الجزيرة) إلا النفطُ والقار
They said: “Al-Jazira will not accept your rule.”
They said (Al-Jazeera) does not accept your rule
There is nothing in Al-Jazira but oil and tar.
There is nothing in (Al-Jazeera) but oil and tar
ديارُthe lands of (عمروAmr بنson of كلثومٍKulthum) يعيثُwreaks havoc بهاin them
ديارُ (عمرو بن كلثومٍ) يعيثُ بها
بهزلِthrough the farce of دهركِyour age إسكافٌa cobbler وخمّارand a wine-seller
بهزلِ دهركِ إسكافٌ وخمّار
In the lands of Amr ibn Kulthum, havoc is wrought
The dwellings of (Amr bin Kulthum) which
in your age’s farce, by a cobbler and a wine-seller,
Your fate's jest fills with drunkenness and dissipation
منfrom among لاجئٍa refugee وَدخيلٍand an intruder وابنand a son of سابلةٍwayfarers
من لاجئٍ وَدخيلٍ وابن سابلةٍ
فيon ظهرِهhis back منfrom سياطِthe whips of (التركthe Turks) آثارmarks
في ظهرِه من سياطِ (الترك) آثار
a refugee, an intruder, a wayfarer’s son,
Of refugees, newcomers, and sons of Sabila
with marks of the Turks’ lashes on his back.
On their backs are lashes from (the Turks)
(طيّTayy) وand (تغلبTaghlib) هلhave ...? نامتْslept فوارسُهاtheir horsemen
(طيّ) و (تغلب) هل نامتْ فوارسُها
فَصالso he charged يُرهجُraising dust فيin الميدانِthe field حمّارa donkey-driver؟
فَصال يُرهجُ في الميدانِ حمّار؟
Tayy and Taghlib—have their horsemen fallen asleep,
(Tayy) and (Taghlib), did their horsemen sleep
so that a donkey-driver has charged, raising dust on the field?
So that a donkey brays in the battle?
روايةٌa play سمجةٌrepulsive، صوتُthe voice of الملقنthe prompter منfrom
روايةٌ سمجةٌ، صوتُ الملقن من
وراءَbehind قترتهhis booth كالرعدlike thunder هدّارroaring
وراءَ قترته كالرعد هدّار
A repulsive play: the prompter’s voice, from
A vulgar story, the prompter's voice from
behind his booth, roars like thunder.
Behind his screen like thunder, rattling
بنيsons of (العروبةArabhood) كمhow many منof صحيةٍa cry ذهبتْwent forth
بني (العروبة) كم من صحيةٍ ذهبتْ
لَوْif يُستثارُwere roused بهاby it الموتىthe dead إِذنْthen ثارواthey rose
لَوْ يُستثارُ بها الموتى إِذنْ ثاروا
Sons of Arabhood, how many a cry has gone forth—
O children of (Arabness), how many war cries have passed
if the dead were roused by it, they would have risen!
That if the dead were awakened by them, they would rise
إنَّindeed الحوادثَevents لوif أدركتمُyou understood عبرٌlessons
إنَّ الحوادثَ لو أدركتمُ عبرٌ
فأينthen where لاno أينwhere ألبابُminds وأبصارand eyes؟
فأين لا أين ألبابُ وأبصار؟
Indeed, events, if you understood them, are lessons;
If you understood the lessons of events
where, then—no, where—are minds and eyes?
Where, oh where are the minds and insights?
الرحمُkinship واشجةٌclosely entwined والدارُand the homeland جامعةٌunifying
الرحمُ واشجةٌ والدارُ جامعةٌ
فَلمْso why تقطَّعare severed أرحامٌkinship ties وأقطارand lands؟
فَلمْ تقطَّع أرحامٌ وأقطار؟
Kinship binds us, and the homeland unites us;
Wombs are related, and the house gathers
so why are kinship ties and lands torn apart?
So why are wombs severed and homelands torn apart?
هنتمْyou became despised عَلَىby كلِّevery شعبٍpeople منbecause of تخاذِلكمْyour mutual desertion
هنتمْ عَلَى كلِّ شعبٍ من تخاذِلكمْ
شأنَlike العبيدِslaves وباقيand the rest of الناسhumanity أحرارfree
شأنَ العبيدِ وباقي الناس أحرار
You are despised by every people for abandoning one another,
They reproach you for the state of every people from your negligence
like slaves, while all other people are free.
The status of slaves while the rest of people are free
لمnot تغنavail كثرتُكمyour multitude عنكمfor you كأنكمُas though you
لم تغن كثرتُكم عنكم كأنكمُ
علىdespite المزيدthe increase ولاand not أرقامnumbers أصفارzeros...
على المزيد ولا أرقام أصفار...
Your multitude has availed you nothing; it is as though you,
Your great number does not avail you, as if you are
for all your increase, were not numbers but zeros...
More yet amount to nothing, O zeros...
تُخرِّبونyou destroy بأيديكمwith your hands بيوتكمُyour homes
تُخرِّبون بأيديكم بيوتكمُ
جهلاًin ignorance أكلُّكُمُare all of you ياO (عربُArabs) أغمارinexperienced fools
جهلاً أكلُّكُمُ يا (عربُ) أغمار
You destroy your homes with your own hands
You destroy your homes with your own hands
in ignorance—are you all, O Arabs, simpletons?
Ignorantly, all of you, O Arabs, are immersed in darkness
ياoh ليتif only شعريَmy knowledge ماذاwhat يستفزكمُrouses you؟
يا ليت شعريَ ماذا يستفزكمُ؟
حمىًprotected land مباحٌlaid open وإذلالٌand humiliation وإفقارand impoverishment
حمىً مباحٌ وإذلالٌ وإفقار
Would that I knew what would rouse you!
I wonder what provokes you?
A homeland laid open, humiliation, and impoverishment.
Permissible zeal, humiliation and impoverishment
أرىI see الحجارةَstones أحمىmore fiery منthan أُنوفِكمُyour noses
أرى الحجارةَ أحمى من أُنوفِكمُ
كمhow many أرسلتْsent out شرراًsparks بالقدحِby striking أحجارstones
كم أرسلتْ شرراً بالقدحِ أحجار
I see stones more fiery than your noses;
I see stones more zealous than your noses
how many stones have sent out sparks when struck!
How often have sparks sent by flint ignited flames?
إخوانُكمyour brothers فيin (فلسطينPalestine) تنالهمُassail them
إخوانُكم في (فلسطين) تنالهمُ
بالسوءِwith harm والعسفِand oppression أنيابٌfangs وأظفارand claws
بالسوءِ والعسفِ أنيابٌ وأظفار
Your brothers in Palestine are assailed
Your brethren in (Palestine) are afflicted
with harm and oppression by fangs and claws.
By evil and aggression, fangs and claws
(مهدthe cradle of المسيحChrist) وand (معراجthe place of ascension of النبيthe Prophet) وand (أوfirst (initial fragment)
(مهد المسيح) و (معراج النبي) و (أو
لى(completes 'first') القبلتينthe two prayer-directions) بهاthere لمnot يأمنِfeel safe الجارthe neighbor
لى القبلتين) بها لم يأمنِ الجار
The cradle of Christ, the Prophet’s place of ascension, and the first
(Cradle of Christ) and (Ascent of the Prophet) and (First of the
of the two qiblas—there, no neighbor has been safe.
Two Qiblas) - in it neither neighbor was safe
كمhow many ريعwas terrorized سربٌa flock بهاthere بَغْياًunjustly وكَمْand how many هُتِكتُwere torn
كم ريع سربٌ بها بَغْياً وكَمْ هُتِكتُ
منof حرمةِthe sanctity of (الحرمِthe sanctuary القدسيِّof Jerusalem) أستارveils
من حرمةِ (الحرمِ القدسيِّ) أستار
How many a flock has been terrorized there unjustly, and how many
How often a caravan was ambushed unjustly, and how many
veils protecting the sanctity of Jerusalem’s sanctuary have been torn!
Of the sanctities of (the Noble Sanctuary) were violated
أينwhere السوابقُthe swift steeds للجلىfor the great calamity إذاwhen نزلتْit descends
أين السوابقُ للجلى إذا نزلتْ
إنَّindeed الحوازبَdire crises والأحداثand events مضمارa racecourse
إنَّ الحوازبَ والأحداث مضمار
Where are the swift steeds for great calamity, when it descends?
Where are the precedents of glory when
Indeed, dire crises and events are the racecourse.
Strife and events descend? Verily parties and events are an arena
Sol 6.1