لا يَمتَطي المَجدَ مَن لَم يَركَبِ الخَطَرا

لا يَمتَطي المَجدَ مَن لَم يَركَبِ الخَطَرا

وَلا يَنالُ العُلى مَن قَدَّمَ الحَذَرا

وَلا يَنالُ العُلى مَن قَدَّمَ الحَذَرا

None mounts glory who has not ridden danger.

No glory can be mounted by one who never rides peril

Nor does one attain the heights who puts caution first.

No heights can be attained by one who always fears falling

وَمَن أَرادَ العُلى عَفواً بِلا تَعَبٍ

وَمَن أَرادَ العُلى عَفواً بِلا تَعَبٍ

قَضى وَلَم يَقضِ مِن إِدراكِها وَطَرا

قَضى وَلَم يَقضِ مِن إِدراكِها وَطَرا

Whoever seeks the heights effortlessly, without toil,

Those wanting glory without toil or pain,

dies without fulfilling his desire to attain them.

Will never attain or even near achieving it.

لا بُدَّ لِلشَهدِ مِن نَحلٍ يُمَنِّعُهُ

لا بُدَّ لِلشَهدِ مِن نَحلٍ يُمَنِّعُهُ

لا يَجتَني النَفعَ مَن لَم يَعمَلِ الضَرَرا

لا يَجتَني النَفعَ مَن لَم يَعمَلِ الضَرَرا

Honey must have bees to guard it;

The honey cannot be easily obtained,

no one reaps benefit who has not faced harm.

Only through enduring many stinging pain.

لا يُبلَغُ السُؤلُ إِلّا بَعدَ مُؤلَمَةٍ

لا يُبلَغُ السُؤلُ إِلّا بَعدَ مُؤلَمَةٍ

وَلا يَتِمُّ المُنى إِلّا لِمَن صَبَرا

وَلا يَتِمُّ المُنى إِلّا لِمَن صَبَرا

The desired goal is reached only after a painful ordeal,

No desires are ever fulfilled,

and wishes come true only for one who endures.

Except after much agonizing grief.

وَأَحزَمُ الناسِ مَن لَو ماتَ مِن ظَمَإٍ

وَأَحزَمُ الناسِ مَن لَو ماتَ مِن ظَمَإٍ

لا يَقرَبُ الوِردَ حَتّى يَعرِفَ الصَدَرا

لا يَقرَبُ الوِردَ حَتّى يَعرِفَ الصَدَرا

And the most prudent of men is he who, even if he should die of thirst,

The best of men is he who, if dying of thirst,

will not approach the watering place until he knows the way back.

Would not approach water until knowing it's source

وَأَغزَرُ الناسِ عَقلاً مَن إِذا نَظَرَت

وَأَغزَرُ الناسِ عَقلاً مَن إِذا نَظَرَت

عَيناهُ أَمراً غَدا بِالغَيرِ مُعتَبِراً

عَيناهُ أَمراً غَدا بِالغَيرِ مُعتَبِراً

And the richest of men in wisdom is he who, when his eyes see

The wisest of all people is one who sees

a matter, takes a lesson from others.

An event, and considers its consequence on others

فَقَد يُقالُ عِثارُ الرِجلِ إِن عَثَرَت

فَقَد يُقالُ عِثارُ الرِجلِ إِن عَثَرَت

وَلا يُقالُ عِثارُ الرَأيِ إِن عَثَرا

وَلا يُقالُ عِثارُ الرَأيِ إِن عَثَرا

For a foot's stumble may be remedied when it slips,

A man may stumble once or twice,

but a lapse of judgment cannot be remedied when it falters.

But fail in judgment continuously shows no wisdom.

مَن دَبَّرَ العَيشَ بِالآراءِ دامَ لَهُ

مَن دَبَّرَ العَيشَ بِالآراءِ دامَ لَهُ

صَفواً وَجاءَ إِلَيهِ الخَطبُ مُعتَذِرا

صَفواً وَجاءَ إِلَيهِ الخَطبُ مُعتَذِرا

Whoever governs life by sound judgment finds it enduring

One who plans his life thoughtfully will enjoy

untroubled, while calamity comes to him apologetically.

Tranquility, with difficulties avoiding his abode.

يَهونُ بِالرَأيِ ما يَجري القَضاءُ بِهِ

يَهونُ بِالرَأيِ ما يَجري القَضاءُ بِهِ

مَن أَخطَأَ الرَأيَ لا يَستَذنِبُ القَدَرا

مَن أَخطَأَ الرَأيَ لا يَستَذنِبُ القَدَرا

Judgment lightens whatever destiny decrees.

With wisdom, the harshness of fate is lessened,

Whoever errs in judgment must not blame fate.

While lack of it, none can blame their stars.

مَن فاتَهُ العِزُّ بِالأَقلامِ أَدرَكَهُ

مَن فاتَهُ العِزُّ بِالأَقلامِ أَدرَكَهُ

بِالبَيضِ يَقدَحُ مِن أَعطافِها الشَرَرا

بِالبَيضِ يَقدَحُ مِن أَعطافِها الشَرَرا

Whoever misses glory through pens attains it

If honor avoids the works of your hands,

with bright blades, striking sparks from their sides.

It will come to you from the sparks of your sword.

بِكُلِّ أَبيَضَ قَد أَجرى الفِرِندُ بِهِ

بِكُلِّ أَبيَضَ قَد أَجرى الفِرِندُ بِهِ

ماءَ الرَدى فَلَوِ اِستَقطَرتَهُ قَطَرا

ماءَ الرَدى فَلَوِ اِستَقطَرتَهُ قَطَرا

With every bright blade through which its watered pattern has made flow

With each flashing white blade the knight forced

the water of death—were you to draw drops from it, it would drip.

The wine of destruction through bodies pouring forth.

خاضَ العَجاجَةَ عُرياناً فَما اِنقَشَعَت

خاضَ العَجاجَةَ عُرياناً فَما اِنقَشَعَت

حَتّى أَتى بِدَمِ الأَبطالِ مُؤتَزِرا

حَتّى أَتى بِدَمِ الأَبطالِ مُؤتَزِرا

It plunged naked into the battle-dust, which did not clear

He entered the arena naked with no armor,

until it emerged girded with heroes' blood.

And came out wearing garb stained red with brave men's blood.

لا يَحسُنُ الحِلمُ إِلّا في مَواطِنِهِ

لا يَحسُنُ الحِلمُ إِلّا في مَواطِنِهِ

وَلا يَليقُ الوَفا إِلّا لِمَن شَكَرا

وَلا يَليقُ الوَفا إِلّا لِمَن شَكَرا

Forbearance is fitting only in its proper places,

Clemency is only appropriate in the proper place,

and loyalty is fitting only for those who show gratitude.

Loyalty is only due to those who appreciate.

وَلا يَنالُ العُلى إِلّا فَتىً شَرُفَت

وَلا يَنالُ العُلى إِلّا فَتىً شَرُفَت

خِلالُهُ فَأَطاعَ الدَهرَ ما أَمَرا

خِلالُهُ فَأَطاعَ الدَهرَ ما أَمَرا

And none attains the heights but a youth of noble

Glory is only attained by the honorable ones

character, whose every command Time obeys.

Who listened to what fate commands all to obey.

كَالصالِحِ المَلِكِ المَرهوبِ سَطوَتُهُ

كَالصالِحِ المَلِكِ المَرهوبِ سَطوَتُهُ

فَلَو تَوَعَّدَ قَلبَ الدَهرِ لَاِنفَطَرا

فَلَو تَوَعَّدَ قَلبَ الدَهرِ لَاِنفَطَرا

Like al-Salih, the king whose might is feared:

So powerful in might is the great virtuous king,

were he to threaten Time's heart, it would split apart.

If he threatens to break the universe - it would shatter.

لَمّا رَأى الشَرَّ قَد أَبدى نَواجِذَهُ

لَمّا رَأى الشَرَّ قَد أَبدى نَواجِذَهُ

وَالغَدرَ عَن نابِهِ لِلحَربِ قَد كَشَرا

وَالغَدرَ عَن نابِهِ لِلحَربِ قَد كَشَرا

When he saw evil baring its molars,

When he saw evil reveal its fangs,

and treachery baring its fang for war,

And betrayal bare its teeth for war and conflict.

رَأى القِسِيَّ إِناثاً في حَقيقَتِها

رَأى القِسِيَّ إِناثاً في حَقيقَتِها

فَعافَها وَاِستَشارَ الصارِمَ الذَكَرا

فَعافَها وَاِستَشارَ الصارِمَ الذَكَرا

he saw bows as female in their true nature,

He saw the females as just females essentially,

so he spurned them and consulted the male, keen-edged sword.

And turned to the decisive male for counsel.

فَجَرَّدَ العَزمَ مِن قَتلِ الصَفاحِ لَها

فَجَرَّدَ العَزمَ مِن قَتلِ الصَفاحِ لَها

مَلكٌ عَنِ البيضِ يَستَغني بِما شُهِرا

مَلكٌ عَنِ البيضِ يَستَغني بِما شُهِرا

So for war he bared resolve, without the blades' slaughter—

So he stripped mercy from his heart for their sake,

a king who needs no bright swords, relying on what has been bared.

A king who sufficed with his white sword for protection.

يَكادُ يُقرَأُ مِن عُنوانِ هِمَّتِهِ

يَكادُ يُقرَأُ مِن عُنوانِ هِمَّتِهِ

ما في صَحائِفِ ظَهرِ الغَيبِ قَد سُطِرا

ما في صَحائِفِ ظَهرِ الغَيبِ قَد سُطِرا

One can almost read in the heading of his resolve

You can almost read from his determination

what has been inscribed in the pages of the unseen.

What the unknown future has already written.

كَالبَحرِ وَالدَهرِ في يَومي نَدىً وَرَدىً

كَالبَحرِ وَالدَهرِ في يَومي نَدىً وَرَدىً

وَاللَيثِ وَالغَيثِ في يَومي وَغىً وَقِرى

وَاللَيثِ وَالغَيثِ في يَومي وَغىً وَقِرى

Like the sea and Time on days of bounty and death,

Like the sea, fate can be kindness or evil,

and the lion and the rain on days of battle and hospitality.

And the lions and rain can be trouble or mercy.

ما جادَ لِلناسِ إِلّا قَبلَ ما سَأَلوا

ما جادَ لِلناسِ إِلّا قَبلَ ما سَأَلوا

وَلا عَفا قَطُّ إِلّا بَعدَما قَدَرا

وَلا عَفا قَطُّ إِلّا بَعدَما قَدَرا

He never gave to people except before they asked,

He never gave people anything unless they asked first,

and never once pardoned except after gaining power.

And did not forgive until determining the punishment.

لاموهُ في بَذلِهِ الأَموالَ قُلتُ لَهُم

لاموهُ في بَذلِهِ الأَموالَ قُلتُ لَهُم

هَل تَقدِرُ السُحبُ أَلّا تُرسِلَ المَطَرا

هَل تَقدِرُ السُحبُ أَلّا تُرسِلَ المَطَرا

They blamed him for giving away wealth; I told them,

They blamed him for freely spending wealth. I said:

"Can clouds refrain from sending rain?"

Can the clouds refrain from sending the rain?

إِذا غَدا الغُصنُ غَضّاً في مَنابِتِهِ

إِذا غَدا الغُصنُ غَضّاً في مَنابِتِهِ

مَن شاءَ فَليَجنِ مِن أَفنانِهِ الثَمَرا

مَن شاءَ فَليَجنِ مِن أَفنانِهِ الثَمَرا

When a branch grows fresh and tender in its soil,

If branches are still young in their growth,

let whoever wishes pluck fruit from its boughs.

Let those who want enjoy picking the ripened fruits.

مِن آلِ أُرتُقٍ المَشهورِ ذِكرُهُمُ

مِن آلِ أُرتُقٍ المَشهورِ ذِكرُهُمُ

إِذ كانَ كَالمِسكِ إِن أَخفَيتَهُ ظَهَرا

إِذ كانَ كَالمِسكِ إِن أَخفَيتَهُ ظَهَرا

Of the house of Artuq, whose renown is well known,

Among the famous family line of Urtuq

for it is like musk: hide it, and it reveals itself.

Once hidden, their fragrance still rises forth.

الحامِلينَ مِنَ الخَطِّيِّ أَطوَلَهُ

الحامِلينَ مِنَ الخَطِّيِّ أَطوَلَهُ

وَالناقِلينَ مِنَ الأَسيافِ ما قَصُرا

وَالناقِلينَ مِنَ الأَسيافِ ما قَصُرا

Those who carry the longest Khatt spears,

The farthest reaching ones of deep piercing words,

and bear short swords.

And the farthest carrying ones of sharp slicing swords.

لَم يَرحَلوا عَن حِمى أَرضٍ إِذا نَزَلوا

لَم يَرحَلوا عَن حِمى أَرضٍ إِذا نَزَلوا

إِلّا وَأَبقَوا بِها مِن جودِهِم أَثَرا

إِلّا وَأَبقَوا بِها مِن جودِهِم أَثَرا

They never leave a land's sanctuary once they have camped there,

Never leaving a land after staying at it

without leaving in it a trace of their generosity.

Without leaving vestiges of their generosity existent.

تَبقى صَنائِعُهُم في الأَرضِ بَعدَهُمُ

تَبقى صَنائِعُهُم في الأَرضِ بَعدَهُمُ

وَالغَيثُ إِن سارَ أَبقى بَعدَهُ الزَهرا

وَالغَيثُ إِن سارَ أَبقى بَعدَهُ الزَهرا

Their good deeds remain on earth after them,

Their great works remain in this earth after them,

and rain, when it departs, leaves flowers behind.

Just as the rain remains flowers after it's gone.

لِلَّهِ دَرُّ سَما الشَهباءِ مِن فَلَكٍ

لِلَّهِ دَرُّ سَما الشَهباءِ مِن فَلَكٍ

فَكُلَّما غابَ نَجمٌ أَطلَعَت قَمَرا

فَكُلَّما غابَ نَجمٌ أَطلَعَت قَمَرا

God bless al-Shahba's sky—what a celestial sphere!

Praise be to the starry cosmos’ lofty sphere,

For whenever a star sets, it brings forth a moon.

For whenever a star disappears, the moon appears!

يا أَيُّها المَلِكُ الباني لِدَولَتِهِ

يا أَيُّها المَلِكُ الباني لِدَولَتِهِ

ذِكراً طَوى ذِكرَ أَهلِ الأَرضِ وَاِنتَشَرا

ذِكراً طَوى ذِكرَ أَهلِ الأَرضِ وَاِنتَشَرا

O king, who builds for his realm

O king, builder of his state and fame

a renown that eclipses the fame of earth's people and spreads abroad!

Whose fame spread and surpassed all men’s names.

كا نَت عِداكَ لَها دَستٌ فَقَد صَدَعَت

كا نَت عِداكَ لَها دَستٌ فَقَد صَدَعَت

حَصاةُ جَدِّكَ ذاكَ الدَستَ فَاِنكَسَرا

حَصاةُ جَدِّكَ ذاكَ الدَستَ فَاِنكَسَرا

Your enemies had a throne, but it was split

If any others reached out their hands against it,

by the pebble of your good fortune, and that throne broke apart.

Your grandfather shattered those hands striking the fists.

فَاِوقِع إِذا غَدَروا سَوطَ العَذابِ بِهِم

فَاِوقِع إِذا غَدَروا سَوطَ العَذابِ بِهِم

يَظَلُّ يَخشاكَ صَرفُ الدَهرِ إِن غَدَرا

يَظَلُّ يَخشاكَ صَرفُ الدَهرِ إِن غَدَرا

So, if they betray, bring the lash of torment down upon them;

So unleash the whip of torment on those who betrayed,

Time's shifting course will ever fear you if it proves treacherous.

Dishonor itself will fear you if carrying treason again.

وَاِرعَب قُلوبَ العِدى تُنصَر بِخَذلِهِمُ

وَاِرعَب قُلوبَ العِدى تُنصَر بِخَذلِهِمُ

إِنَّ النَبِيَّ بِفَضلِ الرُعبِ قَد نُصِرا

إِنَّ النَبِيَّ بِفَضلِ الرُعبِ قَد نُصِرا

And terrify your enemies' hearts; you will triumph through their being forsaken,

And horrify the hearts of enemies – aided by their abandonment,

for the Prophet was granted victory by the power of terror.

The prophet himself gained victory through projecting dread.

وَلا تُكَدَّر بِهِم نَفساً مُطَهَّرَةً

وَلا تُكَدَّر بِهِم نَفساً مُطَهَّرَةً

فَالبَحرُ مِن يَومِهِ لا يَعرِفُ الكَدَرا

فَالبَحرُ مِن يَومِهِ لا يَعرِفُ الكَدَرا

And do not let them sully a purified soul,

Do not let them disturb a purified soul,

for the sea, since its first day, has never known turbidity.

The sea never came to know turbidity or murk.

ظَنّوا تَأَنّيكَ عَن عَجزٍ وَما عَلِموا

ظَنّوا تَأَنّيكَ عَن عَجزٍ وَما عَلِموا

أَنَّ التَأَنّي فيهِم يَعقُبُ الظَفَرا

أَنَّ التَأَنّي فيهِم يَعقُبُ الظَفَرا

They thought your deliberateness came from weakness, not knowing

They thought your hesitation was from inadequacy,

that patience with them brings victory in its wake.

But never realized planning precedes triumph and victory.

أَحسَنتُمُ فَبَغَوا جَهلاً وَما اِعتَرَفوا

أَحسَنتُمُ فَبَغَوا جَهلاً وَما اِعتَرَفوا

لَكُم وَمَن كَفَرَ النُعمى فَقَد كَفَرا

لَكُم وَمَن كَفَرَ النُعمى فَقَد كَفَرا

You did them good, yet in ignorance they rebelled and gave no recognition

You treated them well, yet they were thankless in ignorance,

to you; whoever denies blessings has indeed disbelieved.

Whoever rejects blessings has rejected faith.

وَاِسعَد بِعيدِكَ ذا الأَضحى وَضَحِّ بِهِ

وَاِسعَد بِعيدِكَ ذا الأَضحى وَضَحِّ بِهِ

وَصِل وَصَلِّ لِرَبِّ العَرشِ مُؤتَمِرا

وَصِل وَصَلِّ لِرَبِّ العَرشِ مُؤتَمِرا

And rejoice in this, your Eid al-Adha, and offer sacrifice on it;

Celebrate your Eid through charity and connect

and maintain ties, and pray to the Lord of the Throne, obeying His command.

Bonds and pray to Lord of the Throne reverently.

وَاِنحَرعِداكَ فَبِالإِنعامِ ما اِنصَلَحوا

وَاِنحَرعِداكَ فَبِالإِنعامِ ما اِنصَلَحوا

إِن كانَ غَيرُكَ لِلأَنعامِ قَد نَحَرا

إِن كانَ غَيرُكَ لِلأَنعامِ قَد نَحَرا

And slaughter your enemies, for kindness has not reformed them,

Slaughter your sacrifice. For only with your favors

if someone other than you has slaughtered livestock.

Will they fix themselves, if others already made sacrifice.