تهتزshakes الأرضthe earth ولاbut does not تفعprobably 'fall' (a likely typo for تقع)
تهتز الأرض ولا تفع
فعلامwhy, then قنوطكyour despair والفزعand fear
فعلام قنوطك والفزع
The earth shakes, but does not fall.
The earth trembles but does no harm,
Why, then, your despair and fear?
Why then your despair and alarm?
احسنthink well بالربانof the helmsman ظنوbeginning of ظنونك: 'your thoughts'
احسن بالربان ظنو
نكcompletion of ظنونك: 'your thoughts' فهوfor he السالبthe taker والمصطنعand the benefactor
نك فهو السالب والمصطنع
Think well of the helmsman,
Think well of the Captain of the ship,
for he takes away and bestows favors.
For He takes away and He gives.
كمhow many a عاصفةstorm هبتblew ومضتand passed
كم عاصفة هبت ومضت
والصحوand clear weather لهاfor it حلفa sworn companion تبعُfollowing
والصحو لها حلف تبعُ
How many a storm has blown and passed,
How many storms have raged and passed,
with clear weather following as its sworn companion.
While the skies swore allegiance fast.
ويظنand thinks الجائعthe hungry person لاno شبعsatiety
ويظن الجائع لا شبع
ولقدand indeed يتخمهleaves him surfeited الشبعsatiety
ولقد يتخمه الشبع
And the hungry person thinks there is no satiety,
The famished believes he'll never have his fill,
yet satiety may leave him surfeited.
Yet satiation may his hunger still.
والناسand people عبيدslaves مطامعهمtheir cravings
والناس عبيد مطامعهم
ماhow اسعدhappy أقواماpeople قنعواwere content
ما اسعد أقواما قنعوا
And people are slaves to their cravings.
People are slaves to their endless greed,
How happy are those who are content!
Happy are those who are sated by their need.
Sol 6.1