أماis there no فيin الحمىthe sanctuary ضوءlight لمنfor one whom جنهenveloped him الليلthe night
أما في الحمى ضوء لمن جنه الليل
أماis there no هضبةa hill ترقىcan be climbed لمنfor one whom دهمoverwhelmed السيلthe torrent
أما هضبة ترقى لمن دهم السيل
Is there no light in the sanctuary for one whom night has enveloped?
In fever is there light for one whose night is bleak?
Is there no hill to climb for one whom the torrent has overwhelmed?
In flood’s path does a hill for one in peril speak?
إلىuntil كمhow long يظلcontinues الظلمoppression للعدلof justice ماحياan effacer
إلى كم يظل الظلم للعدل ماحيا
وكمand how long يستمرpersists الجورtyranny فيamong الناسthe people والويلand woe
وكم يستمر الجور في الناس والويل
How long will oppression go on effacing justice?
How long can wrong yet rule and justice lie asleep?
And how long will tyranny and woe persist among the people?
How long can tyranny the people’s cries besiege?
إذاwhen قالspeaks ربa possessor of الفضلmerit أنكرis rejected قولهhis utterance
إذا قال رب الفضل أنكر قوله
وانand if نطقspeaks المهذارthe babbler قيلit is said هوhe القيلthe chief
وان نطق المهذار قيل هو القيل
When a man of merit speaks, his words are rejected;
When one of merit speaks he’s called a foolish freak.
And if the babbler speaks, they say, 'He is the chief.'
When blather blathers, it is said to be unique.
أقلبI turn طرفيmy gaze فيin الديارthe lands فلاbut not ارىI see
أقلب طرفي في الديار فلا ارى
سوىexcept مدعa claimant فضلاmerit وليسand there is no لهfor him ذيلa trailing hem
سوى مدع فضلا وليس له ذيل
I turn my gaze about the land, but see nothing
I turn my gaze about, and nowhere do I seek
Except a pretender to merit, without even a trailing hem.
A man of merit, though of claims there is no leak.
إذاwhen قلتI say قمrise للأمرto the task قامhe rises معدداlisting
إذا قلت قم للأمر قام معددا
معاذيرهhis excuses لاno حولpower فيهin him ولاnor حيلstrength
معاذيره لا حول فيه ولا حيل
When I say, 'Rise to the task,' he rises, listing
When bid, “Arise!” he answers, making excuses weak,
His excuses: there is neither power nor strength in him.
“I cannot rise or stir—I nothing have that’s chic!”
تحكمتhave taken control الأذنابthe tails فالأمرso affairs أعوجare crooked
تحكمت الأذناب فالأمر أعوج
متىwhen كانwas there للأذنابfor the tails عنaway from عوجcrookedness ميلan inclination
متى كان للأذناب عن عوج ميل
The tails have taken control, so affairs are crooked;
When mules are set as leaders, matters go oblique.
When have tails ever inclined away from crookedness?
Can crooked mule the path of straightness ever seek?
أجهلاignorance? وبغياand oppression واستطالةand insolence فاجرof a scoundrel
أجهلا وبغيا واستطالة فاجر
وعصرand squeezing جيوبthe pockets القومof the people قدalready طفحhas overflowed الكيلthe measure
وعصر جيوب القوم قد طفح الكيل
Ignorance, oppression, and a scoundrel's insolence,
Ignorant and insolent, lewd villain and critique—
And squeezing the people's pockets? The measure has overflowed!
Squeezing wealth from people whom no justice does bespeak.
أماis there no فيكمamong you للبثto vent grief صيحةa cry مشتكof a complainant
أما فيكم للبث صيحة مشتك
إذاif لمnot يكنbe مالwealth لديكمwith you ولاnor خيلhorses
إذا لم يكن مال لديكم ولا خيل
Is there no cry of complaint among you to voice your grief,
Is there no wounded heart among you that will shriek?
If you have neither wealth nor horses?
If you’ve no wealth or steeds, where is your manhood bleak?
كفىsuffices القومthe people عاراdisgrace أنthat يقالis called غبيتهمtheir fool
كفى القوم عارا أن يقال غبيتهم
اخوa possessor of سؤددeminence فيهمamong them لهhis is المنعwithholding والنيلand bestowal
اخو سؤدد فيهم له المنع والنيل
It is shame enough for the people that their fool is called
Enough disgrace, when it is said they tricked the meek—
A man of eminence among them, with power to withhold and bestow.
A brother, milked by them, from whom they always seek.
Sol 6.1