ياO اِبنَson of الأُجاجِthe bitterly salty water المِلكِthe king (vocalization uncertain) لاdo not
يا اِبنَ الأُجاجِ المِلكِ لا
تَستَخصِمِpick a quarrel with العَذبَthe sweet water الفُراتاthe fresh, palatable water
تَستَخصِمِ العَذبَ الفُراتا
O son of the briny king, do not
O son of kings, do not contend
pick a quarrel with sweet, fresh water.
With Euphrates' gentle stream
وَاِطلُبand seek لِعِرضِكَfor your honor مَخلَصاًan escape
وَاِطلُب لِعِرضِكَ مَخلَصاً
مِنfrom قَبلَbefore أَترُكُهُI leave it مَواتاlifeless
مِن قَبلَ أَترُكُهُ مَواتا
And seek an escape for your honor,
Seek for your honor a savior
before I leave it lifeless.
Before I leave it lifeless
فَلَوfor if أَنَّهُthat it حَيٌّalive تَصُكstrikes (continued next line)
فَلَو أَنَّهُ حَيٌّ تَصُك
كُcontinuation of “strikes” قُفاهُits nape قافِيَةٌa rhyme لَماتاit would surely die
كُ قُفاهُ قافِيَةٌ لَماتا
For if it were alive and were struck
If it were alive when you strike
on the nape by a rhyme, it would die.
Its nape would be a rhyme scheme slain
Sol 6.1