وَلَسناand we are not بِأَوَّلِthe first مَنone whom فاتَهُeluded him
وَلَسنا بِأَوَّلِ مَن فاتَهُ
عَلىdespite رِفقِهِhis prudence بَعضُsome of ماwhat يُطلَبُis sought
عَلى رِفقِهِ بَعضُ ما يُطلَبُ
And we are not the first to miss
Nor are we the first whose care
some of what is sought, despite prudence.
Some of what we seek eludes;
وَقَدand sometimes يُدرِكُattains الأَمرَthe goal غَيرُone other than الأَريبِthe shrewd one
وَقَد يُدرِكُ الأَمرَ غَيرُ الأَريبِ
وَقَدand sometimes يُصرَعُis struck down الحُوَّلُthe resourceful one القُلَّبُthe versatile one
وَقَد يُصرَعُ الحُوَّلُ القُلَّبُ
And sometimes the unskilled attains the goal,
Yet the wary still attain their share,
and sometimes the resourceful, versatile man is struck down.
And the rash are brought to ruin.
وَلَكِنand yet لَهاit has آمِرٌa commander قادِرٌpowerful
وَلَكِن لَها آمِرٌ قادِرٌ
إِذاwhen حاوَلَhe undertakes الأَمرَthe matter لاnot يُغلَبُis overcome
إِذا حاوَلَ الأَمرَ لا يُغلَبُ
Yet it has a powerful commander:
But for this a ruler sits
when he undertakes a matter, he cannot be overcome.
Who, if he wills, cannot be overcome.
Sol 6.1