لِكُلِّ اِمرِئٍ مِن دَهرِهِ ما تَعَوَّدا

لِكُلِّ اِمرِئٍ مِن دَهرِهِ ما تَعَوَّدا

وَعادَةُ سَيفِ الدَولَةِ الطَعنُ في العِدا

وَعادَةُ سَيفِ الدَولَةِ الطَعنُ في العِدا

Each man receives from his days what he has grown accustomed to,

Each person is accustomed to his own time,

For every man, life yields but that to which he is accustomed,

and Sayf al-Dawla's habit is to thrust at enemies,

And the habit of Saif Al-Dawla is to thrust with spears at the enemy,

And Sayf al-Dawla’s habit is the striking of the foe,

وَأَن يُكذِبَ الإِرجافَ عَنهُ بِضِدِّهِ

وَأَن يُكذِبَ الإِرجافَ عَنهُ بِضِدِّهِ

وَيُمسي بِما تَنوي أَعاديهِ أَسعَدا

وَيُمسي بِما تَنوي أَعاديهِ أَسعَدا

and to refute rumors about him with their opposite,

And to belie the rumors about him with their opposite,

To prove the rumors of his weakness wrong by doing the reverse,

and end the day more fortunate through what his enemies intend.

And he ends the day happily with what his enemies intended.

And to emerge most joyous from the harm his foes intended.

وَرُبَّ مُريدٍ ضَرَّهُ ضَرَّ نَفسَهُ

وَرُبَّ مُريدٍ ضَرَّهُ ضَرَّ نَفسَهُ

وَهادٍ إِلَيهِ الجَيشَ أَهدى وَما هَدى

وَهادٍ إِلَيهِ الجَيشَ أَهدى وَما هَدى

And many a man wishing him harm has harmed himself,

And many a loyalist he harmed, harming himself,

How often one seeking his hurt has only hurt himself,

and many who led an army against him made a gift of it rather than guiding it.

And many a defector he guided, but did not himself find guidance.

And one guiding an army against him gave a gift, not a guide.

وَمُستَكبِرٍ لَم يَعرِفِ اللَهَ ساعَةً

وَمُستَكبِرٍ لَم يَعرِفِ اللَهَ ساعَةً

رَأى سَيفَهُ في كَفِّهِ فَتَشَهَّدا

رَأى سَيفَهُ في كَفِّهِ فَتَشَهَّدا

And many an arrogant man who had never known God for a moment

And many an arrogant person who did not know God for an hour,

And many an arrogant soul, who never knew God for an hour,

saw his sword in his hand and uttered the testimony of faith.

When he saw his sword in his hand, started making the testimony of faith.

Saw the sword in his hand, and bore witness to the Faith.

هُوَ البَحرُ غُص فيهِ إِذا كانَ ساكِناً

هُوَ البَحرُ غُص فيهِ إِذا كانَ ساكِناً

عَلى الدُرِّ وَاِحذَرهُ إِذا كانَ مُزبِدا

عَلى الدُرِّ وَاِحذَرهُ إِذا كانَ مُزبِدا

He is the sea: dive into him when he is calm,

He is the sea, plunge into it when calm,

He is the Sea: dive deep within when it is calm and still,

for pearls; and beware him when he foams.

Pearls can be grasped, but beware of it when turbulent.

For pearls, but beware its wrath when the frothing waves arise.

فَإِنّي رَأَيتُ البَحرَ يَعثُرُ بِالفَتى

فَإِنّي رَأَيتُ البَحرَ يَعثُرُ بِالفَتى

وَهَذا الَّذي يَأتي الفَتى مُتَعَمِّدا

وَهَذا الَّذي يَأتي الفَتى مُتَعَمِّدا

For I have seen the sea strike a young man by chance,

For I have seen the sea make the young man stumble,

For I have seen the ocean merely stumble upon a youth,

while this one comes for a young man deliberately.

Yet he is the one who willfully comes to the sea.

While this Sea comes crashing down upon the lad with intent.

تَظَلُّ مُلوكُ الأَرضِ خاشِعَةً لَهُ

تَظَلُّ مُلوكُ الأَرضِ خاشِعَةً لَهُ

تُفارِقُهُ هَلكى وَتَلقاهُ سُجَّدا

تُفارِقُهُ هَلكى وَتَلقاهُ سُجَّدا

The kings of the earth remain humbled before him:

The kings of earth bow down to him submissively,

The kings of all the earth remain in humble awe of him;

they part from him slain and meet him prostrate.

They leave him destroyed and meet him prostrating.

They leave his presence in ruin, or meet him bowing down.

وَتُحيِي لَهُ المالَ الصَوارِمُ وَالقَنا

وَتُحيِي لَهُ المالَ الصَوارِمُ وَالقَنا

وَيَقتُلُ ما يُحيِي التَبَسُّمُ وَالجَدا

وَيَقتُلُ ما يُحيِي التَبَسُّمُ وَالجَدا

Sharp swords and spears bring his wealth to life,

Swords and spears greet him,

The sharp swords and the spears revive his wealth and treasury,

and smiles and bounty kill what the weapons revive.

And he kills with a smile and seriousness.

Yet his smiling face and gifts destroy what war revives.

ذَكيٌّ تَظَنّيهِ طَليعَةُ عَينِهِ

ذَكيٌّ تَظَنّيهِ طَليعَةُ عَينِهِ

يَرى قَلبُهُ في يَومِهِ ما تَرى غَدا

يَرى قَلبُهُ في يَومِهِ ما تَرى غَدا

He is keen-witted: his conjecture scouts ahead of his eye;

Quick-witted, you would think his eye is ahead of him,

So sharp his mind, his intuition acts as his eye's scout;

his heart sees today what you will see tomorrow.

His heart sees during his day what eyes will see tomorrow.

His heart perceives in the present day what you shall see tomorrow.

وَصولٌ إِلى المُستَصعَباتِ بِخَيلِهِ

وَصولٌ إِلى المُستَصعَباتِ بِخَيلِهِ

فَلَو كانَ قَرنُ الشَمسِ ماءً لَأَورَدا

فَلَو كانَ قَرنُ الشَمسِ ماءً لَأَورَدا

He reaches the hardest objectives with his cavalry;

With his horses he reaches the most rugged terrain,

With cavalry, he reaches heights deemed impossible to scale;

so, were the sun's rim water, he would lead them there to drink.

If the ray of the sun were water he would lead it to drink.

Were the sun’s horn made of water, he would lead his steed to drink.

لِذَلِكَ سَمّى اِبنُ الدُمُستُقِ يَومَهُ

لِذَلِكَ سَمّى اِبنُ الدُمُستُقِ يَومَهُ

مَماتاً وَسَمّاهُ الدُمُستُقُ مَولِدا

مَماتاً وَسَمّاهُ الدُمُستُقُ مَولِدا

For that reason the Domestikos's son called his day

That is why the son of Al-Dumustaq called his day

Thus the Domesticus's son named that day his death,

a day of death; the Domestikos called it a day of birth.

Mammat; and Al-Dumustaq called it a birthday,

While the Domesticus himself called it a new birthday.

سَرَيتَ إِلى جَيحانَ مِن أَرضِ آمِدٍ

سَرَيتَ إِلى جَيحانَ مِن أَرضِ آمِدٍ

ثَلاثاً لَقَد أَدناكَ رَكضٌ وَأَبعَدا

ثَلاثاً لَقَد أَدناكَ رَكضٌ وَأَبعَدا

You traveled by night to Jayhan from the land of Amid,

You rode to Al-Jaihan from the land of Amud

You marched by night to Jayhan's stream from the lands of Amid,

for three nights: galloping brought you close and carried you far.

In three days - quick pace took you close and returned you far.

For three nights; the gallop brought you near, yet took you far.

فَوَلّى وَأَعطاكَ اِبنَهُ وَجُيوشَهُ

فَوَلّى وَأَعطاكَ اِبنَهُ وَجُيوشَهُ

جَميعاً وَلَم يُعطِ الجَميعَ لِيُحمَدا

جَميعاً وَلَم يُعطِ الجَميعَ لِيُحمَدا

So he fled and gave you his son and his armies,

So he fled, and gave you his son and his armies together,

He turned in flight, surrendering his son and troops to you,

all together—and he did not give them all to be praised.

And did not give all to be praised.

Surrendering them all—yet gave them not to earn man's praise.

عَرَضتَ لَهُ دونَ الحَياةِ وَطَرفِهِ

عَرَضتَ لَهُ دونَ الحَياةِ وَطَرفِهِ

وَأَبصَرَ سَيفَ اللَهِ مِنكَ مُجَرَّدا

وَأَبصَرَ سَيفَ اللَهِ مِنكَ مُجَرَّدا

You stood between his gaze and life,

You offered him life and his neck,

You stood between his very life and his fleeing gaze,

and he saw in you God's sword unsheathed.

And he saw the bare sword of God from you.

And there he saw the Sword of God, unsheathed in your hand.

وَما طَلَبَت زُرقُ الأَسِنَّةِ غَيرَهُ

وَما طَلَبَت زُرقُ الأَسِنَّةِ غَيرَهُ

وَلَكِنَّ قُسطَنطينَ كانَ لَهُ الفِدا

وَلَكِنَّ قُسطَنطينَ كانَ لَهُ الفِدا

And the blue spearheads sought no one but him,

And the blue spears wanted none but him,

The blue tips of the lances sought no target but himself,

but Constantine was his ransom.

But Constantine was for him a ransom.

Yet Constantine became the ransom paid to save his life.

فَأَصبَحَ يَجتابُ المُسوحَ مَخافَةً

فَأَصبَحَ يَجتابُ المُسوحَ مَخافَةً

وَقَد كانَ يَجتابُ الدِلاصَ المُسَرَّدا

وَقَد كانَ يَجتابُ الدِلاصَ المُسَرَّدا

So he took to wearing haircloth out of fear,

So he woke up wearing the religious gown in fear,

Now he roams in monks' hairshirts, driven by his fear,

though he had worn polished, closely linked mail.

Once he wore brocade robes.

He who once donned chainmail armor, smooth and tightly woven.

وَيَمشي بِهِ العُكّازُ في الدَيرِ تائِباً

وَيَمشي بِهِ العُكّازُ في الدَيرِ تائِباً

وَما كانَ يَرضى مَشيَ أَشقَرَ أَجرَدا

وَما كانَ يَرضى مَشيَ أَشقَرَ أَجرَدا

And a staff carries him through the monastery, repentant,

And the cripple walked him in the monastery repentant,

Now, leaning on a staff, he walks the monastery in penance,

though the gait of a sleek chestnut steed once failed to please him.

He would not accept walking after the reddish-black horse.

He who once scorned the pace of the finest golden steed.

وَما تابَ حَتّى غادَرَ الكَرُّ وَجهَهُ

وَما تابَ حَتّى غادَرَ الكَرُّ وَجهَهُ

جَريحاً وَخَلّى جَفنَهُ النَقعُ أَرمَدا

جَريحاً وَخَلّى جَفنَهُ النَقعُ أَرمَدا

He did not repent until battle's charge left his face

He did not repent until paralysis distorted his face,

He repented only when the charge had left his face

wounded, and battle-dust left his eyelid inflamed.

Wounded, and his eyelids were afflicted with cataract.

Scarred deep, and battle-dust had left his eyelids sore.

فَلَو كانَ يُنجي مِن عَليٍّ تَرَهُّبٌ

فَلَو كانَ يُنجي مِن عَليٍّ تَرَهُّبٌ

تَرَهَّبَتِ الأَملاكُ مَثنى وَمَوحِدا

تَرَهَّبَتِ الأَملاكُ مَثنى وَمَوحِدا

So, if becoming a monk could save one from Ali,

If piety could save someone from Ali,

If turning monk could save a man from Ali’s striking hand,

kings would become monks, in pairs and one by one.

The angels would pray two-by-two and alone.

Then all the kings would take the vows, in pairs and one by one.

وَكُلُّ اِمرِئٍ في الشَرقِ وَالغَربِ بَعدَها

وَكُلُّ اِمرِئٍ في الشَرقِ وَالغَربِ بَعدَها

يُعِدُّ لَهُ ثَوباً مِنَ الشَعرِ أَسوَدا

يُعِدُّ لَهُ ثَوباً مِنَ الشَعرِ أَسوَدا

And every man in the East and West, after this,

And everyone in East and West henceforth

And every man across the East and West would then prepare

prepares for himself a black garment of hair.

Prepared for him a black woolen robe.

To wear a coarse black tunic made of goat hair for his robe.

هَنيئاً لَكَ العيدُ الَّذي أَنتَ عيدُهُ

هَنيئاً لَكَ العيدُ الَّذي أَنتَ عيدُهُ

وَعيدٌ لِمَن سَمّى وَضَحّى وَعَيَّدا

وَعيدٌ لِمَن سَمّى وَضَحّى وَعَيَّدا

Joy to you in the feast for which you yourself are a feast,

Congratulations on the feast which you are its feast,

Blessed be the Eid for you, for whom you are the Eid itself,

and a feast for all who invoke God's name, sacrifice, and celebrate.

And a feast for whoever prayed, sacrificed, and renewed.

And a feast for those who pray, and sacrifice, and celebrate.

وَلا زالَتِ الأَعيادُ لُبسَكَ بَعدَهُ

وَلا زالَتِ الأَعيادُ لُبسَكَ بَعدَهُ

تُسَلِّمُ مَخروقاً وَتُعطى مُجَدَّدا

تُسَلِّمُ مَخروقاً وَتُعطى مُجَدَّدا

May feasts forever be your garments after this one:

And the feasts continued to be your garb after him,

May holidays forever be a garment you put on,

you hand one back worn through and receive another renewed.

Handing over worn-out clothes and being given new ones.

That you cast off when worn with time, to be given one anew.

فَذا اليَومُ في الأَيّامِ مِثلُكَ في الوَرى

فَذا اليَومُ في الأَيّامِ مِثلُكَ في الوَرى

كَما كُنتَ فيهِم أَوحَداً كانَ أَوحَدَ

كَما كُنتَ فيهِم أَوحَداً كانَ أَوحَدَ

This day among days is like you among mankind:

So this day among days is like you among people,

For this day among all other days is like you among mankind:

as you are peerless among them, so it is peerless.

As you were unique among them, it became unique.

Just as you stand unique amidst them, so too does it stand lone.

هُوَ الجَدُّ حَتّى تَفضُلَ العَينُ أُختَها

هُوَ الجَدُّ حَتّى تَفضُلَ العَينُ أُختَها

وَحَتّى يَصيرَ اليَومُ لِليَومِ سَيِّدا

وَحَتّى يَصيرَ اليَومُ لِليَومِ سَيِّدا

It is good fortune that lets one eye surpass its sister,

It is superior until the eye exceeds its sister,

It is fortune's way, that one eye may excel its sister orb,

and lets one day become the master of another.

And until the day becomes master to the day.

And that one day may rise to become master of another.

فَيا عَجَباً مِن دائِلٍ أَنتَ سَيفُهُ

فَيا عَجَباً مِن دائِلٍ أَنتَ سَيفُهُ

أَما يَتَوَقّى شَفرَتَي ما تَقَلَّدا

أَما يَتَوَقّى شَفرَتَي ما تَقَلَّدا

How strange a ruler whose sword you are!

So what a wonder from one whose sword you are,

O wonder at a shifting Fate, of which you are the sword!

Does he not beware the two edges of what he has girded on?

Does he not fear the two edges of what you carry?

Does it not fear the razor edges of the blade it wears?

وَمَن يَجعَلِ الضِرغامَ بازاً لِصَيدِهِ

وَمَن يَجعَلِ الضِرغامَ بازاً لِصَيدِهِ

تَصَيَّدَهُ الضِرغامُ فيما تَصَيَّدا

تَصَيَّدَهُ الضِرغامُ فيما تَصَيَّدا

And whoever makes a lion a falcon for his hunt,

And who makes the vulture his hunting bird,

For he who makes a lion the falcon for his hunting sport,

the lion hunts him among all it hunts.

The vulture will hunt him while he hunts.

Shall find the lion hunts him down along with all his prey.

رَأَيتُكَ مَحضَ الحِلمِ في مَحضِ قُدرَةٍ

رَأَيتُكَ مَحضَ الحِلمِ في مَحضِ قُدرَةٍ

وَلَو شِئتَ كانَ الحِلمُ مِنكَ المُهَنَّدا

وَلَو شِئتَ كانَ الحِلمُ مِنكَ المُهَنَّدا

I have seen you pure forbearance in absolute power,

I saw you as pure clemency with full ability,

I saw you as pure mercy amidst absolute command;

and, had you wished, your forbearance would have been an Indian blade.

Had you wished, clemency from you would be deterred.

Yet had you wished, that mercy would have been a killing blade.

وَما قَتَلَ الأَحرارَ كَالعَفوِ عَنهُمُ

وَما قَتَلَ الأَحرارَ كَالعَفوِ عَنهُمُ

وَمَن لَكَ بِالحُرِّ الَّذي يَحفَظُ اليَدا

وَمَن لَكَ بِالحُرِّ الَّذي يَحفَظُ اليَدا

And nothing kills noble men like pardoning them,

And nothing kills the noble like pardoning them,

Nothing subdues the noble soul like pardon freely given,

and who can find you a noble man who remembers a kindness?

And who can protect the free man but his hand?

But who guarantees the noble man will honor the good deed?

إِذا أَنتَ أَكرَمتَ الكَريمَ مَلَكتَهُ

إِذا أَنتَ أَكرَمتَ الكَريمَ مَلَكتَهُ

وَإِن أَنتَ أَكرَمتَ اللَئيمَ تَمَرَّدا

وَإِن أَنتَ أَكرَمتَ اللَئيمَ تَمَرَّدا

If you honor a noble man, you possess him;

If you honor the honorable you gain him,

If you honor the noble man, you capture his devotion,

but if you honor a base man, he rebels.

But if you honor the despicable he rebels.

But if you honor the ignoble, he rebels in insolence.

وَوَضعُ النَدى في مَوضِعِ السَيفِ بِالعُلا

وَوَضعُ النَدى في مَوضِعِ السَيفِ بِالعُلا

مُضِرٌّ كَوَضعِ السَيفِ في مَوضِعِ النَدى

مُضِرٌّ كَوَضعِ السَيفِ في مَوضِعِ النَدى

And placing generosity where the sword belongs is to glory

Replacing the sword with leniency through power

To place generosity where the sword should strike is harm,

as harmful as placing the sword where generosity belongs.

Is harmful, like replacing leniency with the sword.

Just as it harms to draw the sword where generosity is due.

وَلَكِن تَفوقُ الناسَ رَأياً وَحِكمَةً

وَلَكِن تَفوقُ الناسَ رَأياً وَحِكمَةً

كَما فُقتَهُم حالاً وَنَفساً وَمَحتِدا

كَما فُقتَهُم حالاً وَنَفساً وَمَحتِدا

But you surpass people in judgment and wisdom,

But excel people in opinion and wisdom,

But you surpass all mankind in judgment and in wisdom,

as you have surpassed them in standing, spirit, and lineage.

As you surpassed them in state, self, and possessions.

As you surpass them in your state, your spirit, and your roots.

يَدِقُّ عَلى الأَفكارِ ما أَنتَ فاعِلٌ

يَدِقُّ عَلى الأَفكارِ ما أَنتَ فاعِلٌ

فَيُترَكُ ما يَخفى وَيُؤخَذُ ما بَدا

فَيُترَكُ ما يَخفى وَيُؤخَذُ ما بَدا

What you do is too subtle for minds to grasp,

Your actions filter thoughts,

Your actions represent a depth too subtle for mere thought;

so what is hidden is left aside, and what appears is taken.

The hidden is ignored and the obvious is taken.

The hidden is left understood, and only the surface grasped.

أَزِل حَسَدَ الحُسّادِ عَنّي بِكَبتِهِم

أَزِل حَسَدَ الحُسّادِ عَنّي بِكَبتِهِم

فَأَنتَ الَّذي صَيَّرتَهُم لِيَ حُسَّدا

فَأَنتَ الَّذي صَيَّرتَهُم لِيَ حُسَّدا

Rid me of the enviers' envy by humbling them,

Remove the envy of enviers from me by suppressing them,

Remove from me the enviers' spite by striking them with shame,

for you are the one who made them envy me.

For you are the one who made them envy me.

For it was you who raised me up and made them envy me.

إِذا شَدَّ زَندي حُسنُ رَأيِكَ فيهِمِ

إِذا شَدَّ زَندي حُسنُ رَأيِكَ فيهِمِ

ضَرَبتُ بِسَيفٍ يَقطَعُ الهامَ مُغمَدا

ضَرَبتُ بِسَيفٍ يَقطَعُ الهامَ مُغمَدا

When your sound judgment concerning them strengthens my forearm,

If the beauty of your opinion strengthens my determination,

If your high favor strengthens my arm against their plots,

I strike with a sword that severs heads while still sheathed.

I strike with a sword that severs necks while sheathed.

I strike with a blade that severs heads while sleeping in its sheath.

وَما أَنا إِلّا سَمهَرِيٌّ حَمَلتَهُ

وَما أَنا إِلّا سَمهَرِيٌّ حَمَلتَهُ

فَزَيَّنَ مَعروضاً وَراعَ مُسَدَّدا

فَزَيَّنَ مَعروضاً وَراعَ مُسَدَّدا

And I am nothing but a straight spear you have carried:

And I am but a poet you carried,

For I am nothing but a lance of war that you have cast;

it adorned you when displayed and terrified when aimed.

So he appeared well-presented and watched carefully.

Adorning the court when held at rest, and terrifying when thrown.

وَما الدَهرُ إِلّا مِن رُواةِ قَلائِدي

وَما الدَهرُ إِلّا مِن رُواةِ قَلائِدي

إِذا قُلتُ شِعراً أَصبَحَ الدَهرُ مُنشِداً

إِذا قُلتُ شِعراً أَصبَحَ الدَهرُ مُنشِداً

And Time is but one of the reciters of my necklaces of verse;

And time is none but the narrator of my necklaces,

And Time itself is nothing but a reciter of my verse;

when I speak poetry, Time becomes a reciter.

When I recite poetry, time becomes a vocalizer.

Whenever I compose a poem, the Age begins to chant.

فَسارَ بِهِ مَن لا يَسيرُ مُشَمِّرا

فَسارَ بِهِ مَن لا يَسيرُ مُشَمِّرا

وَغَنّى بِهِ مَن لا يُغَنّي مُغَرِّدا

وَغَنّى بِهِ مَن لا يُغَنّي مُغَرِّدا

So even one who does not travel journeys with it, girded for the road,

So he who does not travel travelled with it energetically,

It travels with the traveler who had no mind to roam,

and even one who does not sing sings it, warbling.

And he who does not sing sang it melodiously.

And makes the silent man break forth in trilling, joyful song.

أَجِزني إِذا أُنشِدتَ شِعراً فَإِنَّما

أَجِزني إِذا أُنشِدتَ شِعراً فَإِنَّما

بِشِعري أَتاكَ المادِحونَ مُرَدَّدا

بِشِعري أَتاكَ المادِحونَ مُرَدَّدا

Reward me when poetry is recited to you, for it is only

Accept me if I sing poetry, for only

Reward me when poetry is recited in your hall,

my poetry, repeated, that the panegyrists bring you.

Through my poetry did the praisers come to you repeating.

For praisers come to you echoing the lines that I have drawn.

وَدَع كُلَّ صَوتٍ غَيرَ صَوتي فَإِنَّني

وَدَع كُلَّ صَوتٍ غَيرَ صَوتي فَإِنَّني

أَنا الصائِحُ المَحكِيُّ وَالآخَرُ الصَدى

أَنا الصائِحُ المَحكِيُّ وَالآخَرُ الصَدى

Ignore every voice but mine, for I—

And leave every voice but my voice, for I am

Ignore all other voices but my own, for truth be told:

I am the caller whose voice is copied; the other is the echo.

The screaming one, the narrator, and the others are the echo.

I am the Voice that thunders forth; the others are but echoes.

تَرَكتُ السُرى خَلفي لِمَن قَلَّ مالُهُ

تَرَكتُ السُرى خَلفي لِمَن قَلَّ مالُهُ

وَأَنعَلتُ أَفراسي بِنُعماكَ عَسجَدا

وَأَنعَلتُ أَفراسي بِنُعماكَ عَسجَدا

I have left night-travel behind me for those with little wealth,

I left travel behind for those whose money is scarce,

I left the weary night-travel to those of little wealth,

and, through your bounty, shod my horses in gold.

And I shod my horses with your bounty completely.

And shod my horses’ hooves with gold, from your unbounded grace.

وَقَيَّدتُ نَفسي في ذَراكَ مَحَبَّةً

وَقَيَّدتُ نَفسي في ذَراكَ مَحَبَّةً

وَمَن وَجَدَ الإِحسانَ قَيداً تَقَيَّدا

وَمَن وَجَدَ الإِحسانَ قَيداً تَقَيَّدا

And I have bound myself in your shelter out of love,

And I harnessed myself in your rope out of love,

I bound my soul within your court, held captive by my love,

and whoever finds beneficence a fetter lets himself be bound.

And whoever finds favor is harnessed and bound.

For he who finds kindness a fetter, is willingly enslaved.

إِذا سَأَلَ الإِنسانُ أَيّامَهُ الغِنى

إِذا سَأَلَ الإِنسانُ أَيّامَهُ الغِنى

وَكُنتَ عَلى بُعدٍ جَعَلنَكَ مَوعِدا

وَكُنتَ عَلى بُعدٍ جَعَلنَكَ مَوعِدا

When a man asks his days for wealth,

When man asks his days for wealth

When a man beseeches his days to grant him wealth and prize,

and you are far away, they appoint you as his promised destination.

And you are far away, he makes you the appointment.

And you are far away—Fate points to you as his desire's end.