مِنَof الدَهرِTime تَشكوyou complain أَمor عَلىagainst الدَهرِTime تَعتَبyou reproach
مِنَ الدَهرِ تَشكو أَم عَلى الدَهرِ تَعتَب
وَماand not صِاحِبُthe companion الأَيّامِof the days إِلّاexcept مُعَذَّبُtormented
وَما صِاحِبُ الأَيّامِ إِلّا مُعَذَّبُ
Do you complain of Time, or reproach Time?
And the companion of the days is only a tormented man.
شَكِيٌّa complainant بِلاwithout قاضٍa judge شَجِيٌّgrief-stricken بِلاwithout أَسىًsorrow (text unclear)
شَكِيٌّ بِلا قاضٍ شَجِيٌّ بِلا أَسىً
إِذاif باتَspends the night فيin دُنياهُhis world يَعتَبُreproaches يَعتَبُreproaches
إِذا باتَ في دُنياهُ يَعتَبُ يَعتَبُ
A complainant with no judge, a mourner with no solace [last word unclear];
if he spends the night in his world reproaching, he reproaches still.
يُلاقيmeets الأَسىsorrow فيin صَدرِهِhis breast كُلَّevery مَذهَبٍpath
يُلاقي الأَسى في صَدرِهِ كُلَّ مَذهَبٍ
مَتىwhenever ضاقَnarrows عَنهُfor him فيin البَسيطَةِthe earth مَذهَبُa path
مَتى ضاقَ عَنهُ في البَسيطَةِ مَذهَبُ
Sorrow finds every path within his breast
whenever a path on earth closes against him.
هُوَhe is المَرءُman فيin كَفِّthe palm الزَمانِof Time مُقَلَّبٌtossed about
هُوَ المَرءُ في كَفِّ الزَمانِ مُقَلَّبٌ
يُقاسيendures عَذابَthe torment المَوتِof death وَالدَهرُwhile Time يَلعَبُplays
يُقاسي عَذابَ المَوتِ وَالدَهرُ يَلعَبُ
Man is tossed about in the palm of Time,
enduring death's torment while Time plays.
تَوَلَّدَwas born فيin الدُنياthe world حَليفَan ally مَصائِبٍof calamities
تَوَلَّدَ في الدُنيا حَليفَ مَصائِبٍ
فَلَمso not يُغنِavailed عَنهُhim حِرصُهُhis caution وَالتَجَنُّبُand avoidance
فَلَم يُغنِ عَنهُ حِرصُهُ وَالتَجَنُّبُ
He was born into the world an ally of calamities;
neither his caution nor avoidance availed him.
يُصاحِبُهاaccompanies them وَهيَthough they are العِداةُthe enemies وَأَنَّهُand indeed it is
يُصاحِبُها وَهيَ العِداةُ وَأَنَّهُ
لِخَسفِsurely abasement بِأَنto تَشناhate الَّذيthe one whom أَنتَyou تَصحَبُaccompany
لِخَسفِ بِأَن تَشنا الَّذي أَنتَ تَصحَبُ
He accompanies them, though they are enemies; and indeed,
it is degrading to hate the one you accompany.
إِذاif نَقَصَتdiminished مشنfrom (apparent typo) كُلِّevery عِزٍّhonor حُظوظُهُhis shares
إِذا نَقَصَت مشن كُلِّ عِزٍّ حُظوظُهُ
فَأَسهُمُهُthen his shares مِنof نَكبَةٍmisfortune لَيسَnot تَغلِبُsurpassed
فَأَسهُمُهُ مِن نَكبَةٍ لَيسَ تَغلِبُ
If his shares in every honor diminish,
his shares of misfortune remain unsurpassed.
طَريدُone pursued by لَيالٍnights باتَspent the night فيin كَفِّthe grasp طارِدِof a pursuer
طَريدُ لَيالٍ باتَ في كَفِّ طارِدِ
وَمَطلوبُand one hunted by دَهرٍTime عِندَwith مَنthe one whom هُوَhe يَطلُبُpursues
وَمَطلوبُ دَهرٍ عِندَ مَن هُوَ يَطلُبُ
Pursued by nights, he spends the night in his pursuer's grasp,
and hunted by Time, he is with the very one who hunts him.
فَبَيناthen while يُسامُis subjected to الخَسفُhumiliation مِنfrom كُلِّevery وَجهَةٍdirection
فَبَينا يُسامُ الخَسفُ مِن كُلِّ وَجهَةٍ
إِذاsuddenly هُوَhe فيin بَطنِthe belly الضَريحِof the tomb مُغَيَّبُis hidden
إِذا هُوَ في بَطنِ الضَريحِ مُغَيَّبُ
Then, while he is subjected to humiliation from every side,
suddenly he lies hidden in the belly of the tomb.
فَلِلَهِso, by God ياO دُنياworld حَياتِكَyour life كَربَةٌis anguish
فَلِلَهِ يا دُنيا حَياتِكَ كَربَةٌ
وَفيكَand in you غُرابُthe raven البَينِof separation ماnot زالَceased يَنعَبُcroaking
وَفيكَ غُرابُ البَينِ ما زالَ يَنعَبُ
By God, O world, life in you is anguish,
and in you the raven of separation never ceases to croak.
رَأَيتُكَI found you مَحضُpure الغِشِّdeceit فيwithin مَحضِpure قُدرَةٍpower
رَأَيتُكَ مَحضُ الغِشِّ في مَحضِ قُدرَةٍ
فَلاso no مِنكَfrom you رُهبانٌmonks (text unclear) وَلاand no فيكَin you أَرحَبُmore spacious
فَلا مِنكَ رُهبانٌ وَلا فيكَ أَرحَبُ
I have found you pure deceit within pure power;
no monks come from you, nor is there greater room within you [text unclear].
وَإِنّيand I وَإِنeven though ضاقَتgrew narrow عَلَيَّfor me مَذاهِبيmy paths
وَإِنّي وَإِن ضاقَت عَلَيَّ مَذاهِبي
لَدَيكَwith you فَصَدريyet my breast مِنthan فَنائِكَyour courtyard أَرحَبُmore spacious
لَدَيكَ فَصَدري مِن فَنائِكَ أَرحَبُ
And though my paths have narrowed against me
with you, my breast is wider than your courtyard.
اَرىI see بِكَin you مِنof نَكَديmy misery وَصَبريand my patience عَجائِباًwonders
اَرى بِكَ مِن نَكَدي وَصَبري عَجائِباً
وَاِعجَبand I marvel مِنat حاليmy condition وَحالِكَand your condition أَعجَبُis stranger
وَاِعجَب مِن حالي وَحالِكَ أَعجَبُ
In you I see wonders of my misery and patience;
I marvel at my condition, and yours is stranger still.
فَهَلthen is there فيكَin you ضَيمٌoppression مِثلُlike بَعدَseparation from أَحِبَّتيmy loved ones
فَهَل فيكَ ضَيمٌ مِثلُ بَعدَ أَحِبَّتي
مَضىcame to pass ذَلِكَthat الأَمرُmatter الَّذيwhich أَتَهَيَّبُI dread
مَضى ذَلِكَ الأَمرُ الَّذي أَتَهَيَّبُ
Is there any oppression in you like separation from my loved ones?
That thing I dreaded has come to pass.
بَكَيتُI wept عَلَيهِover it وَاِنتَحَبتُand I sobbed لَيالِياًfor nights
بَكَيتُ عَلَيهِ وَاِنتَحَبتُ لَيالِياً
فَلَمbut not يَجِدنيbenefit me ماwhat كُنتُI used to أَبكيweep وَاِنحَبُand sob
فَلَم يَجِدني ما كُنتُ أَبكي وَاِنحَبُ
I wept over it and sobbed through many nights,
but my weeping and sobbing did me no good.
فَكَمhow many لَيلَةٍa night مِنهاof them قَضَيتُI spent مُسامِراًkeeping night company
فَكَم لَيلَةٍ مِنها قَضَيتُ مُسامِراً
نُجومَthe stars السَماof heaven طَوراًat times تُضيءُshine وَتَغرُبُand set
نُجومَ السَما طَوراً تُضيءُ وَتَغرُبُ
How many of those nights I spent keeping company with
the stars of heaven, now shining, now setting,
إِلىto جانِبِthe side of الوَرقاءِthe gray dove تَندُبُlamenting فيin الدُجىthe darkness
إِلى جانِبِ الوَرقاءِ تَندُبُ في الدُجى
شَجبَينِtwo grieving ones طولُthroughout اللَيلِthe night نَشكوwe complain وَنَندُبُand we lament
شَجبَينِ طولُ اللَيلِ نَشكو وَنَندُبُ
beside the gray dove lamenting in the darkness:
two grieving creatures, complaining and lamenting all night.
تَشِبُّflare up شَراراتِsparks الأَسىof sorrow بِتَرائيas I behold (unclear form)
تَشِبُّ شَراراتِ الأَسى بِتَرائي
وَيُطفِئُهاand extinguishes them مِنfrom ماءِthe water عَينيof my eye صَيِّبُa downpour
وَيُطفِئُها مِن ماءِ عَيني صَيِّبُ
Sparks of sorrow flare as I gaze [last word unclear],
and a downpour of water from my eye extinguishes them.
وَقَدand indeed عَنَتsuffered hardship لاnot أَبغيI seek خُمودَthe extinguishing صَبابَتيof my yearning
وَقَد عَنَت لا أَبغي خُمودَ صَبابَتي
وَاِزجُرand I rebuke طَرفيmy eye إِذwhen يَجِفُّdries وَيَنضُبُand runs dry
وَاِزجُر طَرفي إِذ يَجِفُّ وَيَنضُبُ
And hardship has come; I do not seek to quench my yearning,
and I rebuke my eye when it dries up and runs dry.
بِصَدريin my breast حُرُّthe heat الشَوقِof longing بَردٌcoolness يَلِذُّdelights ليme
بِصَدري حُرُّ الشَوقِ بَردٌ يَلِذُّ لي
وَعِنديand to me وَردُthe draught الدَمعِof tears وَاللَهُby God طَيَّبُis sweet
وَعِندي وَردُ الدَمعِ وَاللَهُ طَيَّبُ
In my breast, longing's heat is a coolness that delights me,
and to me the draught of tears is sweet, by God.
أَبىrefused اللَهُGod أَنthat أَهوىI love السُرورَjoy وَأَنَّنيand that I
أَبى اللَهُ أَن أَهوى السُرورَ وَأَنَّني
عَلىby غَيرِother than صَوتِthe sound النَوحِof lamentation أَشجيam moved to grief وَأُطرَبُand am delighted
عَلى غَيرِ صَوتِ النَوحِ أَشجي وَأُطرَبُ
God has refused that I should love joy, or that I
should be moved or delighted by any sound but lamentation.
لَئِنeven if عَذَّبَwas sweet (likely reading) التَعذيبُtorment ليto me قَبلَbefore ذاthis النَوىseparation
لَئِن عَذَّبَ التَعذيبُ لي قَبلَ ذا النَوى
بِوَجديthrough my longing فَهَلthen would بَعدَafter النَوىseparation لَيسَnot يُعَذَّبُbe sweet (likely reading)
بِوَجدي فَهَل بَعدَ النَوى لَيسَ يُعَذَّبُ
If torment was sweet to me before this separation [reading uncertain],
through my longing, would it not be sweet after separation?
فَياso, oh لَيتَwould that شِعريmy knowledge هَلwhether أَرىI see الدَهرَTime مَرَّةًonce
فَيا لَيتَ شِعري هَل أَرى الدَهرَ مَرَّةً
لَدىin غَفلَةٍa moment of heedlessness عَنof نَكبَتيmy calamity يَتَنَكَّبُturn aside
لَدى غَفلَةٍ عَن نَكبَتي يَتَنَكَّبُ
Oh, would that I knew: shall I ever see Time
turn aside from my calamity in a moment of forgetfulness?
أَلَيسَwill not لِتَصفوso that they grow clear مِنهُfrom it يَوماًone day سَرائِرُhidden intentions
أَلَيسَ لِتَصفو مِنهُ يَوماً سَرائِرُ
فَيَحلُوَso grows sweet ليto me طَعمٌa taste وَيَنساغُand goes down easily مَشرَبُa drink
فَيَحلُوَ لي طَعمٌ وَيَنساغُ مَشرَبُ
Will its hidden intentions not one day grow clear,
so that some taste grows sweet to me and some drink goes down easily?
أَماdoes not فَفَظunclear; perhaps 'angered' الأَيّامَthe days مِنّيfrom me وَقيعَةُdisparagement
أَما فَفَظ الأَيّامَ مِنّي وَقيعَةُ
وَتَغضَبُand become angry مِنّيwith me مِثلَماjust as أَناI أَغضَبُam angry
وَتَغضَبُ مِنّي مِثلَما أَنا أَغضَبُ
Does my disparagement anger the days [verb unclear],
and do they grow angry with me, just as I grow angry?
فَقَدfor indeed طالَhas lasted long وَصفيmy describing نَكدَهاtheir misery غَيرَwithout being كاذِبُa liar
فَقَد طالَ وَصفي نَكدَها غَيرَ كاذِبُ
أَلاoh لَيتَهاwould that they تَسعىstrive بِرَدٍّto refute وَأَكذَبُand I be disproved
أَلا لَيتَها تَسعى بِرَدٍّ وَأَكذَبُ
I have long described their misery, without lying;
would that they sought to refute me and I proved false!
فَتَبّاًso damnation لَهاto them مِنfor مَصمِياتِthe deadly shots سِهامِهاof their arrows
فَتَبّاً لَها مِن مَصمِياتِ سِهامِها
وَلاand not يَنفَعُbenefits الإِنسانُa person مِنهاagainst them التَأَتُّبُpreparation (unclear form)
وَلا يَنفَعُ الإِنسانُ مِنها التَأَتُّبُ
So damn them for their arrows that strike dead;
preparing against them does a person no good.
هِيَthey are الدُجُنَّdark clouds أَماas for صاعِقاتُthe thunderbolts خُطوبِهاof their calamities
هِيَ الدُجُنَّ أَما صاعِقاتُ خُطوبِها
فَصِدقٌthen real وَأَمّاbut as for البَرقُthe lightning مِنهاfrom them فَخَلَّبُthen deceptive
فَصِدقٌ وَأَمّا البَرقُ مِنها فَخَلَّبُ
They are dark storm-clouds: the thunderbolts of their calamities
are real, but their lightning is deceptive.
قَضىspent قَبلَناbefore us الكِندِيُّal-Kindi أَحمَدَAhmad حِقبَةًan age
قَضى قَبلَنا الكِندِيُّ أَحمَدَ حِقبَةً
يَعنَفهاberates it فيin شِعرِهِhis poetry وَيُؤَنَّبُand reproaches it
يَعنَفها في شِعرِهِ وَيُؤَنَّبُ
Before us, Ahmad al-Kindi spent an age
berating the world in his poetry and reproaching it.
عَلىyet أَنَّهاit is indeed الدُنياthe world إِذاif شِئتَyou wish وَصفَهاto describe it
عَلى أَنَّها الدُنيا إِذا شِئتَ وَصفَها
وَإِنeven if لَمnot أَشاI wish تَمليit dictates عَلَيَّto me وَاِكتُبُand I write
وَإِن لَم أَشا تَملي عَلَيَّ وَاِكتُبُ
Yet such is the world, if you wish to describe it;
even when I do not wish to, it dictates to me, and I write.
وَإِنّيand I وَإِنthough لَمnot تَحينيgive me life غَيرَother than صَبوَةٍyouthful passion
وَإِنّي وَإِن لَم تَحيني غَيرَ صَبوَةٍ
فَكَمyet how many ناشِنيseized me مِنهاfrom it إِلىuntil اليَومِtoday مَخلَبُa claw
فَكَم ناشِني مِنها إِلى اليَومِ مَخلَبُ
And though only youthful passion has given me life [text unclear],
how many a claw from it has seized me to this day!
سَأَشكُرُهاI shall thank it إِذsince أَنَّهاit مُذsince حَداثَتيmy youth
سَأَشكُرُها إِذ أَنَّها مُذ حَداثَتي
لَقَدindeed عَوَّدَتنيaccustomed me الصَبرَto patience وَهوَand it is مُحَبَّبُcherished
لَقَد عَوَّدَتني الصَبرَ وَهوَ مُحَبَّبُ
I shall thank it, since from my earliest youth
it has indeed accustomed me to patience, a cherished virtue.
وَقَدand indeed نَجَّذَتنيseasoned me الحادِثاتِevents وَأَدبَتand disciplined me
وَقَد نَجَّذَتني الحادِثاتِ وَأَدبَت
وَلَيسَand there is not كَمِثلِany like الحادِثاتِevents مُؤَدَبُّan educator
وَلَيسَ كَمِثلِ الحادِثاتِ مُؤَدَبُّ
Events have seasoned me and disciplined me,
and no educator is like events.
وَلَكِنَّهاyet it مِنّيin me تُمارِسَcontends with شِدَّةًstrength
وَلَكِنَّها مِنّي تُمارِسَ شِدَّةً
وَقَدand indeed عَجَمتُI tested عوديmy timber فَعوديand my timber أَصلَبُis harder
وَقَد عَجَمتُ عودي فَعودي أَصلَبُ
Yet it contends with strength in me,
and I have tested my timber; my timber is harder.
وَماand not عَدِمتُI lacked مِنany شِدَّةٍstrength وَبَراعَةٍand skill
وَما عَدِمتُ مِن شِدَّةٍ وَبَراعَةٍ
وَلَكِنyet مَلاwhat (apparent typo) لاقَتit encountered أَشَدُّstronger وَأَنجَبُand nobler
وَلَكِن مَلا لاقَت أَشَدُّ وَأَنجَبُ
Nor have I lacked strength or skill;
yet what it faced was stronger and nobler.
وَلَكِنَّهُbut indeed لاno نَفعَbenefit فيهاin it لِصابِرٍfor a patient person
وَلَكِنَّهُ لا نَفعَ فيها لِصابِرٍ
إِذاif لَمnot يَكُنthere is مِنهاfrom it لَعَمرُكَby your life مَهرَبُan escape
إِذا لَم يَكُن مِنها لَعَمرُكَ مَهرَبُ
But patience brings no benefit in it
if, by your life, there is no escape from it.
مُحاكِيَةًimitating لِلبَحرِthe sea تَعلوهُrises above it جيفَةًa carcass
مُحاكِيَةً لِلبَحرِ تَعلوهُ جيفَةً
وَفيهِand in it نَفيسَprecious الدُرِّpearls فيin القَعرِthe depths يَرسُبُsink
وَفيهِ نَفيسَ الدُرِّ في القَعرِ يَرسُبُ
It mimics the sea, upon which a carcass floats,
while precious pearls sink to its depths.
فَيَعدِمُso fails فيهاin it الحَظُّfortune مَنwhoever يَستَحِقُّهُdeserves it
فَيَعدِمُ فيها الحَظُّ مَن يَستَحِقُّهُ
وَيَحرِمُand is denied فيهاin it الكَسبَearnings مَنwhoever يَتَكَسَّبُseeks to earn
وَيَحرِمُ فيها الكَسبَ مَن يَتَكَسَّبُ
Thus fortune there fails those who deserve it,
and earnings are denied there to those who strive to earn.
وَيَحظىand obtains بِهاin it بِالجِدِّgood fortune مَنwhoever لاdoes not يَرومُهُseek it
وَيَحظى بِها بِالجِدِّ مَن لا يَرومُهُ
وَيَشويand grazes the mark بِهاin it بِالسَهمِwith an arrow مَنwhoever لاdoes not يُصَوِّبُaim
وَيَشوي بِها بِالسَهمِ مَن لا يُصَوِّبُ
Those who do not seek good fortune attain it there,
and those who do not aim graze their mark with an arrow.
إِذاif الحَقُّjustice لَمnot يُصبِحbecomes عَلىover الكُلِّeveryone سائِداًsovereign
إِذا الحَقُّ لَم يُصبِح عَلى الكُلِّ سائِداً
فَلَيسَthen there is no لَحَرٍّfor a free man فيin البَرِيَّةِcreation مَأرِبُpurpose
فَلَيسَ لَحَرٍّ في البَرِيَّةِ مَأرِبُ
If justice does not become sovereign over everyone,
a free man has no purpose left in creation.
وَإِنand if عَدِمَlacks الحَقَّjustice المُبينَmanifest نَصيرُهُits champion
وَإِن عَدِمَ الحَقَّ المُبينَ نَصيرُهُ
فَماthen not يَرتَضيis content بِالعَيشِwith life حُرُّa free man مَهذَبُrefined
فَما يَرتَضي بِالعَيشِ حُرُّ مَهذَبُ
And if manifest justice is denied to its champion,
no refined free man would consent to live.
وَإِنand if لَمnot تَكُنthere is فيناamong us عَلىfor الخَيرِgood عُصبَةًa united band
وَإِن لَم تَكُن فينا عَلى الخَيرِ عُصبَةً
فَفيماthen for what سِواهُis besides it ساءَwretched is ماwhat تَتَعَصَّبُyou take sides for
فَفيما سِواهُ ساءَ ما تَتَعَصَّبُ
If we have no band united for good,
how wretched is what you rally to instead!
فَلَيسَthen not بِمَغنٍof any help لِلكَريمِto a noble man اِتِّساعَهاits vastness
فَلَيسَ بِمَغنٍ لِلكَريمِ اِتِّساعَها
إِذاif كانَis فيهاin it الحَقُّjustice كَالمالِlike wealth يَنهَبُplundered
إِذا كانَ فيها الحَقُّ كَالمالِ يَنهَبُ
The world's vastness is no help to a noble man
if justice in it is plundered like wealth.
لَكُمindeed, how often بِتُّI spent the night أَنضىwearing out هِمَّتيmy resolve لِأُقيمُهُto uphold it
لَكُم بِتُّ أَنضى هِمَّتي لِأُقيمُهُ
وَأَظهَرُهُand I reveal it فيin بَعضِsome أَمرٍmatter وَيَحجِبُand it is concealed
وَأَظهَرُهُ في بَعضِ أَمرٍ وَيَحجِبُ
How often I have spent the night exhausting my resolve to uphold it,
and bringing it to light in some matter, only for it to be veiled.
فَماand not زالَceased لِلأَبصارِto the eyes تَحتَbeneath سَتائِرٍcurtains
فَما زالَ لِلأَبصارِ تَحتَ سَتائِرٍ
إِذاwhen زالَlifted عَنهُfrom it غَيهَبَdarkness جِنٍّdescended (likely reading) غَيهَبُdarkness
إِذا زالَ عَنهُ غَيهَبَ جِنٍّ غَيهَبُ
It remains hidden from sight beneath curtains;
when one darkness lifts from it, another darkness descends.
وَأَنّيand I am مِنَof القَومِthe people الَّذينَwho هُمُthey are هُمُthey themselves
وَأَنّي مِنَ القَومِ الَّذينَ هُمُ هُمُ
إِذاwhen غابَsets مِنهُمamong them كَوكَبٌa star لاحappears كَوكَبُa star
إِذا غابَ مِنهُم كَوكَبٌ لاح كَوكَبُ
And I am of those people who are what they are:
when one star among them sets, another appears.
عِتاقَnobles المَعاليof lofty achievement قَدindeed تَسامَتrose high جُدودُهُمtheir ancestors
عِتاقَ المَعالي قَد تَسامَت جُدودُهُم
عَلىabove الشَتمِrevilement مِمَّنfrom those whom أَنسَلَbegot الشَيخُthe elder يَعرُبُYa'rub
عَلى الشَتمِ مِمَّن أَنسَلَ الشَيخُ يَعرُبُ
Nobles of lofty achievement, their ancestors rose
above revilement, among those begotten by the elder Ya'rub.
لَهُمthey have نِسبَةٌa lineage فيin اِقعَسِunyielding المَجدِglory عَرقَهاits root
لَهُم نِسبَةٌ في اِقعَسِ المَجدِ عَرقَها
لَهit has مَنزِلٌa dwelling فَوقَabove السِماكِal-Simak مُطنِبُfirmly pitched
لَه مَنزِلٌ فَوقَ السِماكِ مُطنِبُ
They have a lineage in unyielding glory, whose root
has a dwelling firmly pitched above al-Simak.
وَأُصاحِبُهُمand I accompany them فيهاin it الفَصاحَةَeloquence وَالحِجيand reason
وَأُصاحِبُهُم فيها الفَصاحَةَ وَالحِجي
وَبَذلُand generous giving اللُهىof lavish gifts وَالمُشَرِّفِيُّand the Mashrafi sword المَدَرَّبُbattle-tested
وَبَذلُ اللُهى وَالمُشَرِّفِيُّ المَدَرَّبُ
And I share with them there eloquence and reason,
lavish gifts, and the battle-tested Mashrafi sword.
بِدورٍfull moons إِذاwhen الهاماتُheads بِالبيضِin white عَمَّمَتare turbaned
بِدورٍ إِذا الهاماتُ بِالبيضِ عَمَّمَت
لُيوثَlions إِذاwhen الهاماتُheads بِالبيضِwith gleaming swords تَضرِبُare struck
لُيوثَ إِذا الهاماتُ بِالبيضِ تَضرِبُ
Full moons when heads are wrapped in white,
lions when heads are struck with gleaming swords;
فَياصِلُarbiters حَقٍّof justice بِالبَيانِthrough eloquence وَتارَةًand sometimes
فَياصِلُ حَقٍّ بِالبَيانِ وَتارَةً
فَياصِلٌarbiters إِذwhen دارَturns الأَصَمُّthe solid spear المُكَعَّبُjointed
فَياصِلٌ إِذ دارَ الأَصَمُّ المُكَعَّبُ
arbiters of justice through eloquence, and sometimes
arbiters when the solid, jointed spear turns.
لَهُمthey have حَسبٌancestral honor يَحكيresembles الشُموسَthe suns وُضوحَهُin its brilliance
لَهُم حَسبٌ يَحكي الشُموسَ وُضوحَهُ
يُزاحِمُjostles مَنهُof it مَنكِبَthe shoulder الشَمسِof the sun مَنكِبُa shoulder
يُزاحِمُ مَنهُ مَنكِبَ الشَمسِ مَنكِبُ
Their ancestral honor rivals the suns in its brilliance;
its shoulder jostles the shoulder of the sun.
فَإشنso if (apparent typo) كُنتَyou are مَنسوباًaffiliated إِلَيهِمwith them فَإِنَّهاthen indeed they
فَإشن كُنتَ مَنسوباً إِلَيهِم فَإِنَّها
إِلَيهِمto them لِتَعزىare indeed attributed المَكرُماتِnoble deeds وَتُنسَبُand ascribed
إِلَيهِم لِتَعزى المَكرُماتِ وَتُنسَبُ
If you are counted among them, it is indeed
to them that noble deeds are credited and ascribed.
فَدونَso without اِنتِسابِthe affiliation المَرءِof a man لِلمَجدِwith glory وَالعُلىand exalted rank
فَدونَ اِنتِسابِ المَرءِ لِلمَجدِ وَالعُلى
لَعَمرُكَby your life لاnot يَغنيهِavails him أُمٌّa mother وَلاnor أَبُa father
لَعَمرُكَ لا يَغنيهِ أُمٌّ وَلا أَبُ
Without a man's belonging to glory and exalted rank,
by your life, neither mother nor father can avail him.
فَماso as long as دُمتَyou remain حَيّاًalive فيin الزَمانِTime فَلَمthen not تَزَلcease
فَما دُمتَ حَيّاً في الزَمانِ فَلَم تَزَل
عَلىbound to حُقوقٍduties لَيسَthere is not مِنهُنَّthan them أَوجَبُmore obligatory
عَلى حُقوقٍ لَيسَ مِنهُنَّ أَوجَبُ
As long as you live within Time, you remain
bound to duties, with none more binding than these.
أَهُمُّI aspire بِأَشياءٍto things كِبارٍgreat وَدونَهاand nearer than them
أَهُمُّ بِأَشياءٍ كِبارٍ وَدونَها
مِنَin البُعدِremoteness فيin ذيthis الحالِstate عَنقاءَthe legendary 'Anqa bird مَغرِبُfar-off
مِنَ البُعدِ في ذي الحالِ عَنقاءَ مَغرِبُ
I aspire to mighty things; nearer than they,
in this condition, is the far-off 'Anqa bird.
أَرىI see الفَتحَvictory يَدنوdraw near كُلَّماwhenever أَناI ساكِنٌam still
أَرى الفَتحَ يَدنو كُلَّما أَنا ساكِنٌ
وَيَبعُدُand recedes عَنّيfrom me كُلَّماwhenever أَناI أَقرَبُdraw near
وَيَبعُدُ عَنّي كُلَّما أَنا أَقرَبُ
I see victory draw near whenever I am still,
and recede from me whenever I draw near.
وَقَدand indeed غادَرتُhave left قَلبيmy heart العَوارِضَadversities حائِراًbewildered
وَقَد غادَرتُ قَلبي العَوارِضَ حائِراً
هُوَit is القَلبُthe heart مِنfrom تِلكَthose الحَوادِثِevents قَلَّبُever-changing
هُوَ القَلبُ مِن تِلكَ الحَوادِثِ قَلَّبُ
Adversities have left my heart bewildered;
it is a heart turned about by those events.
تَوارَدَcame successively أَنواعاًin kinds كِثاراًmany وَكُلَّهاand all of them
تَوارَدَ أَنواعاً كِثاراً وَكُلَّها
تُؤثِرُleave a mark فيon القَلبِthe heart اللَطيفِtender وَتَنشُبُand lodge firmly
تُؤثِرُ في القَلبِ اللَطيفِ وَتَنشُبُ
They have come in many different kinds, and all of them
leave their mark on the tender heart and lodge within it.
Sol 6.1